What are the natural enemies of hedgehogs? A roundup of common predator animals
A hedgehog is covered in sharp spines, so logically it should have few natural enemies, but hedgehogs really do have natural enemies in nature. The sayings that a weasel farts and stuns a hedgehog, or that an eagle flaps its wings and blows a hedgehog over, are just folk myths. So what exactly are the natural enemies of hedgehogs? Let's take a look below!
Eagles are not natural enemies of hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, while eagles are diurnal, so there is no situation in which eagles prey on hedgehogs. Moreover, hedgehogs are very small in size and their spines are quite limited in strength, so with an eagle's size and beak it can peck them directly.
Weasels are not natural enemies of hedgehogs either
It is said that when a hedgehog encounters an attack from a weasel, it curls up into a ball. The weasel finds a small gap in the curled-up hedgehog and uses an injection method, putting its rear end into the gap. Before long, the hedgehog is numbed by the foul liquid; after losing consciousness, the hedgehog's body stretches out again, and in this way the weasel can bite the hedgehog to death and enjoy a hearty meal.
Is that really how it happens? Although weasels do have scent glands at the anus, they are usually used as a means of self-defense and are not used for hunting.
What natural enemies do hedgehogs have?
Owls and foxes, which are also nocturnal, are the main natural enemies of hedgehogs. Their body size far exceeds that of hedgehogs, and they do not need much skill to prey on hedgehogs. In fact, a hedgehog's spines are nowhere near as hard and sharp as some people imagine, and it cannot have fruit stuck onto them like in comic strips.
Humans are natural enemies of hedgehogs, and this needs no explanation, as humans are the common natural enemy of all animals.