The European hedgehog, scientifically known as erinaceous europaeus, is the only spined mammal found in Britain. This round, brown and spiky animal is often seen in parks and gardens, hiding amidst the bushes, hedgerows and undergrowth. Hedgehogs have a preference for long grass, teeming with insects, which they feed upon during the night. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, and can often be heard 'snuffling' as they feed on a variety of invertebrates, amphibians, and birds' eggs. Some hedgehogs choose to hibernate during the winter months, from around November to April, in a cosy nest of leaves or logs called a 'hibernaculum'. 

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