How does the hedgehog spend the winter?

As we all know, hedgehog is a small animal with short and dense thorns all over its body. it can curl its body into a ball when it is attacked by the enemy, and it looks very cute. So, how does the hedgehog spend the winter?

How does the hedgehog spend the winter?

Hedgehogs are heterothermic animals and hibernate in winter. Hibernating begins when the temperature drops to 7 ℃ in late autumn, hibernating in nests, or in dead branches and fallen leaves. After entering hibernation, without eating or drinking, the body temperature drops to 6 ℃, breathing at most eight times per minute, sometimes only once, even without breathing for several minutes, and the heartbeat is reduced to 20 times per minute. I didn't wake up until the temperature was warm to a certain extent in the spring of the following year.

What does the hedgehog eat?

The favorite foods of hedgehogs are ants and termites. They also eat young birds, eggs, frogs, lizards, and occasionally crops. Hedgehogs that live freely in the wild will remove pupae, mice and snakes for parks, gardens and small yards. If it is artificially farmed, you can feed caterpillars, beetles, snails, earthworms, fruits, meat feet, grain, vegetables and so on.

Is hedgehog a protected animal?

Hedgehog is a protected animal, which has been listed in the list of terrestrial wildlife with important economic and scientific research value issued by the State Forestry Administration of China on August 1, 2000.