Hedgehogs live in a wide variety of habitats across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and have also been introduced to New Zealand. They are highly adaptable animals found in environments ranging from deserts to forests, grasslands, and even urban areas
. Typical habitats include:
- Woodland edges and hedgerows, which provide food, shelter, and nesting sites
- Gardens, parks, and suburban areas where they can find food and safe nesting places, making urban areas important refuges for hedgehogs
- Farmland and pastures, where they forage for insects and other invertebrates
- Lowlands and hills up to 400–600 meters altitude, and occasionally mountains up to 1500–2000 meters
They avoid very wet areas like marshes and extensive pine forests, as well as upland moorlands and mountainous regions above the tree line, where suitable nesting materials and food are scarce
. Hedgehogs require habitats with:
- Ample food supply (invertebrates like beetles, caterpillars, worms, slugs)
- Water sources
- Dry, sheltered nesting sites for resting, breeding, and hibernation, often under hedges, brambles, compost heaps, or garden sheds
- Protection from predators such as badgers
- Connected areas that allow them to roam and find mates, as they travel up to 2–3 km nightly
In summary, hedgehogs thrive in diverse environments but are especially associated with hedgerows, woodland edges, gardens, and farmland across much of Europe and parts of Asia and Africa
