Hard winter

Important food sources are earthworms and insects. Frogs, lizards, berries and mushrooms are also eaten when available, as are the young of mice and voles. (That house mouse had best be on the alert !) These food sources are scarce during the winter, but the hedgehog has solved that problem.

Hibernation

During the chill of winter, the hedgehog hibernates. Often, it conceals itself in a heap of leaves that provides insulation against the snow and cold.

Low speed

Its body temperature decreases to that of its surroundings (but never below + 6° C) and its respiratory rate to barely ten breaths per minute. Its heart beats only 20 times per minute (compared with 190 during the summer).