The Hedgehog is a creature that everyone can describe. Its spine-covered dumpy body, pointed face and rather innocent demeanour make it a favourite animal character for children everywhere. It is unique among Irish animals in having a spiny jacket - a vital defensive shield for such a slow-moving and otherwise vulnerable creature. The true value of this defence can best be seen when the Hedgehog is under attack. By bringing its back legs up to its head the little animal rolls into a spiny ball like an outsize sea-urchin which can repel dogs, foxes and other predatory animals including man.

In hibernation, too, the Hedgehog, or 'little ugly fellow' as it is humorously described by its Irish name, rolls into a tight ball in its winter nest. This is usually a bundle of dried leaves and mosses, in an undisturbed nook in the corner of a garden, behind a shed or under a log pile. The Hedgehog retires to this cosy retreat at the onset of winter, having fattened up on food for weeks beforehand. Its body temperature drops as does its breathing and heartbeat and there it remains in a torpid state for weeks. The Hedgehog may be aroused from its deep sleep at intervals when there are significant fluctuations in the outside temperature. During these periods it leaves the nest and goes foraging for food to replenish its dwindling body-fat reserves. Despite the obvious advantages of hibernation it has been estimated that only one out of two Hedgehogs that doze off in this state are alive to see the following spring.
Throughout the summer months Hedgehogs are nocturnal, spending the day in the nest and going looking for food after dark. This comprises worms and other small invertebrates but a wide range of foods are taken including birds' eggs and berries, and they can even be encouraged to take milk left out overnight in a saucer.

Mating occurs in the spring and the four or five young are born in the summer. Due to high mortality (particularly on the roads) only two or three may survive to the winter. Should the first litter be lost another may be produced before the end of the summer. There is much folklore associated with the Hedgehog, from its supposed ability to carry away apples impaled on its spines to its alleged ability to drink from cows' udders at night. It has, how ever, some surprising talents like tree climbing and being able to catch and kill a rat. Despite its small size, about 9in. (23cm) the adult animal weighs more than 2 1/2lb (1kg).

Information taken from the book Animals of Ireland by Gordon D'Arcy, published by Appletree Press.