Hedgehog

Erinaceus europaeus

After five months of hibernation, hedgehogs emerge thin and desperately hungry, often seen foraging in broad daylight as they search for beetles, caterpillars, and other invertebrates. They’re living pest control systems, eating up to 200 grams of insects nightly during active periods. Watch for them snuffling through flower beds, where they hunt the very creatures that damage plants. A single hedgehog can consume 3,000 caterpillars in one night. Their spines are actually modified hairs, and they’re born with a first set of white spines that are replaced within weeks.