The
western European Hedgehog is a retiring little animal. Not always quiet,
especially if there is a female involved and two males come courting, but this
is not the usual situation, as it tends to lead a solitary life around the
periphery of open country.
It
wanders around an area of up to 100 acres munching goodies like beetles, but you
won’t see it marching across open country as it lives a pretty fearful life
according to the study of Hof et al who report it as living on the edge (1).
One
might think that with a good set of prickles, the biggest predator threat would
be automobiles as the hedgehogs attempt to cross the road, but that is not the
case. Badgers and foxes are the main predators, although large owls, snakes and
dogs are not averse to a snack of hedgehog if they get the opportunity. A badger
or a fox will roll it over and stick their noses into the unprotected part of the
bundle and open it up enough to snack down on the poor beast.
As
a consequence, the hedgehogs skulk around the edges of fields in regions of a
fear-laden landscape where the fear factor is lowest. The authors recommend developing
more and wider hedgerows in order to enhance the density of useful wildlife
like the hedgehog.
Many
of us humans also live a life on the edge trying to avoid the stress and pressure
of hungry salesmen and entrepreneurs devising ever more ways to eat up our precious
resources. Maybe our politicians could take a time out and set up the
equivalent of those hedgerows where we can pursue our life, liberty and
happiness in peace and quiet.
- A.R. Hof, J. Snellenberg & P. E. Bright, Animal Behavior, (2012) in press
