Why do hedgehogs roll up into a ball?
Have you ever wondered why hedgehogs roll up into a ball?
Some people see hedgehogs rolled into balls and think something must be wrong with them. However, rolling into a ball is actually a clever defence mechanism that hedgehogs employ to protect themselves against perceived threats.
By rolling into a ball, a hedgehog makes full use of all its prickles, effectively turning itself into a 360° ball of spikes – a fantastic deterrent to many of its predators, such as foxes, who find that a mouthful of prickles isn’t worth the hassle of a meal!
This clever defence mechanism takes place in three key stages, as shown in this video.
Firstly, the hedgehog freezes in response to the perceived threat:
Then, the hedgehog “frowns”, or scrunches its forehead down:
Finally the hedgehog rolls itself into a tight ball of prickles:
So if you see a hedgehog rolled into a ball: don’t panic! It is probably fine and has just rolled into a ball to protect itself.
If however the hedgehog looks sick or disoriented, or is showing signs of flystrike, please give us (or your local hedgehog rescue if you are based outside of Newquay) a call and we can advise you on how you can help the hedgehog.
What can’t rolling into a ball protect hedgehogs against?
A wall of prickles may deter a fox or a cat, but it is no match for a car or a strimmer. Sadly, the hedgehog’s classic defence move cannot possibly protect them from human-made dangers. Many hedgehogs will hear a strimmer or a car and automatically roll into a ball rather than running away. Here at Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Rescue we see many strimmer and vehicle injuries.
How you can help to protect hedgehogs at home and on the road
Before operating a strimmer check the area carefully first to make sure it is free from hedgehogs and other wildlife.
When driving at night, keep to the speed limit and keep an eye on the road for hedgehogs. If you see a hedgehog on the road rolled up into a ball, stop only if it is safe to do so, and gently move the hedgehog to the side of the road.