As a young animal the Hedgehog has to gain extremely much weight in autumn

European Hedgehog

The European hedgehog, is a hedgehog species found throughout the Palaearctic region, except in the Himalayas and North Africa.

This hedgehog is about 20 to 30 cm in length. Adult mass can range from 600 to 700 g after hibernation up to 1100 or 1200 g prior to hibernation.

The European Hedgehog lives in woodland, farmland, and suburban areas. It is nocturnal, and if alarmed will roll itself into a ball, protecting itself against potential predators with its spines. Unlike the smaller, warmer climate species, the European Hedgehog may hibernate in the winter. Blonde hedgehogs have a rare recessive gene giving rise to beady, button-black eyes and creamy-coloured spines; they are not strictly speaking albino. They are extremely rare except on the Channel Island of Alderney and are nicknamed "Alderney Spike Girls". A population of around a thousand is believed to exist. They allegedly carry no fleas, and are a localised island variant of Erinaceus europaeus.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Hedgehog - 05.05.2010

Young Hedgehog

For us flab is something negative, only. With a Hedgehog - it is the same with many other animals - it still fulfills its correct purpose as energy reserve for the coming winter.

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