Do Hedgehogs Wake Up During Hibernation?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Do hedgehogs wake up during hibernation?

Most hedgehogs seem to wake up frequently during their hibernation

but rarely leave their nests. These arousals last a day or two and, although generally unprompted, they may be caused by a disturbance or unexpectedly hot weather.

Do hibernating hedgehogs wake up?

Do they wake up during hibernation?

Hedgehogs do occasionally awake from hibernation during periods of milder weather in order to forage for food

. It can be dangerous for them to wake up unexpectedly though, so make sure to be careful of any disturbance like loose pets or gardening.

Do hedgehogs eat during hibernation?

Where and when do hedgehogs hibernate? To prepare for their hibernation,

hedgehogs eat as much as they can during autumn

. To build up good fat reserves for winter, they munch all the beetles, caterpillars and earthworms they can find.

Do hedgehogs sleep through hibernation?

How long does it take for a hedgehog to wake up from hibernation?

An animal in this state is said to be in torpor – rather than asleep. Wild hedgehogs in colder climates often hibernate for

around 6 months

, though this is decreasing as the global climate warms.

What happens if you wake a hibernating hedgehog?

If you do accidentally disturb a hibernation nest, cover it back over with a thick layer of dry leaves and perhaps leave some dog food and water nearby, so if the hedgehog does wake up,

he can easily find something to eat before he goes to find a new hibernation spot and rebuilds his nest

.

What if I disturb a hibernating hedgehog?

So, please leave a hibernating hedgehog alone. If you do disturb a nest accidentally,

cover the hedgehog back up with leaves and retreat

. Make sure some food is available nearby so that if the hedgehog does awaken it has some food to help it regain it’s stores before it goes back into hibernation.

Do hedgehogs return to the same garden?

Hedgehogs are not territorial, however they do seem to follow a regular routine,

visiting the same gardens and even specific areas at roughly the same time each night

.

Do hedgehogs visit every night?


Daytime

.

Hedgehogs are nocturnal, they come out at night and sleep during the day

. The only exception to this is when female hogs can sometimes be seen foraging in the late afternoons.

How do you know if a hedgehog is hibernating?


A hibernating hedgehog will be completely rolled up into a tight ball with no face visible

. You can tell that the hedgehog is hibernating and not dead by the fact that it will ‘ripple’ when touched very gently. It may also emit a little ‘snore’! Hedgehogs also generally don’t die curled up….

How do you wake up a hibernating hedgehog?

Is it lucky to have a hedgehog in your garden?

Few people know that hedgehogs are actually valuable pest controllers in gardens. They eat snails, slugs, and insects, protecting your lovely plants from disease and pest infections. It’s official:

hedgehogs are a gardener’s best friend

.

What month do hedgehogs wake up?

When do hedgehogs emerge from hibernation? From

March

, depending on the weather, hedgehogs will emerge from their hibernation. They will have been hibernating since around November time and during these cold months they will have lost around a third of their body weight. So when they wake up, they will be hungry!

Why wont my hedgehog wake up?

Hedgehog hibernation attempts come from one root issue,

low temperature in their habitat

. Any significant and sustained decrease in room temperature can be all it takes to initiate the process of hibernation. A lot of breeders and vets use the rule of 68°F is the start of the danger zone.

Do hedgehogs sleep all day?

Hedgehogs are nocturnal, meaning

they sleep during the day

and are active at night. They also make sure to hide themselves away in their nest when they’re resting, to avoid disturbance and predation. For these reasons, sleeping and resting aren’t behaviours we’re likely to see a lot in the garden!

Should I bury a dead hedgehog?

If you are in any doubt at all contact your vet or your local hedgehog rescue. Once you are confident, you can either:

Bury it on your own property

. Contact the local vet, who may be able to get it cremated for you.

What temperature is too cold for hedgehogs?

Hedgehogs are sensitive to temperature changes. The ideal range is between 75°F and 85°F. However, they will tolerate temperatures between

72°F and 90°F

. Hedgehogs can go into a hibernation-like state of inactivity when temperatures are too hot or too cold.

How long do hedgehogs sleep for?

Hedgehogs sleep between

12 to 14 hours per day

, sometimes more and sometimes less. It depends on the season. If it’s cold outside or in the room where your hedgehog lives, you might find your hedgehog sleeping up to 18 hours per day.

How do I know if a hedgehog needs help?

What to do if you find a hedgehog in your garage?

If it’s not in any danger and it’s not causing you any problems, then

leave the hedgehog where it is ESPECIALLY if there are babies

. Make sure it can get in and out by itself, look for holes or gaps. If it’s been trapped then please supply a shallow dish of water then call a rescue for advice, do not feed.

Will 2 hedgehogs share a house?

The problem you might have with that is that you have two of the things who might be happy living together at the moment but you’d probably need two houses.

It’s unlikely that they’d move into a new place together

.

Do foxes eat hedgehogs?


Foxes do eat hedgehogs

, but they are more often scavenged (eaten when dead already) than hunted. Foxes do not pose a serious threat to hedgehogs that may be visiting your garden. In urban areas, the two species mostly live peacefully side by side.

What food attracts hedgehogs?

A particular favourite is

hedgehog food, complete cat biscuits or meaty cat or dog food

.

Do hedgehogs attract rats?


Making your garden hedgehog-friendly by providing hedgehogs with food certainly could attract rats

. And many of the things you could do to deter rats will also make life more difficult for hedgehogs, or even harm them.

What time do hedgehogs wake up at night?

Step 1: Monitor your hedgehog’s default sleep schedule

For instance, my previous hedgehog has a typical sleep schedule like most hedgehogs out there, they will fall asleep for most of the day as soon as the sun is up to all the way till the evening which is about

7 – 8 pm onwards

where the sky is dark.

Can hedgehogs smell humans?


They can also recognize the scent of strangers too

. They can do this not just when a stranger walks into the room they are in, but also when they enter the actual house. I mentioned before about the tip of a hedgehogs nose becoming moist when they pick up the smell of something new.

Do hedgehogs breathe in hibernation?

A hibernating hedgehog has a 41-50° Fahrenheit core body temperature (that’s 5-10° Celsius). You can try to check for breathing, but

a hibernating hedgehog’s respiration rate is very shallow and can decrease to around 15 breaths per minute

.

Can hedgehogs freeze to death?

The hedgehogs fat reserves keep the hedgehog alive.

If the temperature drops below 1 degrees C, a hibernating hedgehog will suffer from frostbite, and may even freeze to death

.

Can hedgehogs survive cold?

Do hedgehogs like rain?

How far do hedgehogs roam?

Access between gardens is critical for hedgehogs

On average, they are around 10—20 hectares in size. Hedgehogs can roam an average distance of

2km on a single night

. Male hedgehogs in the breeding season can cover up to 3km in one night in their search of females!

What do you feed rescued hedgehogs?

How do you wake up a hibernating hedgehog?

How do you wake up a hedgehog?

How long do hedgehogs sleep for?

Hedgehogs sleep between

12 to 14 hours per day

, sometimes more and sometimes less. It depends on the season. If it’s cold outside or in the room where your hedgehog lives, you might find your hedgehog sleeping up to 18 hours per day.

Is it normal for a hedgehog to sleep at night?

Sleeping. Remember that hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal, so you will see them sleeping a lot. Hedgehogs sleep away 95% of the day and night. Don’t worry,

this is perfectly normal

.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.