Young hedgehogs fend for themselves as winter looms

THE evenings are drawing in. It’s getting dark early. Out there in the snuffling night, young hedgehogs are on their great life-or-death adventure, writes Damien Enright.

Born in early September, they are safe in the nest for six weeks, then the family splits up and they wander off alone. For ten days or so, they may return to take their mother’s milk, but then the split is final. They will lead solitary lives. Hedgehogs meet and pass each other like ships in the night. They wouldn’t know their fathers if they met them.

Winter will soon be upon them. Just when they need to put on weight to survive the winter in hibernation, food is growing scarce. When the adults have long since gone into hibernation, these unhappy youngsters are still abroad, forced to remain active: hedgehogs weighing less than half a pound are sometimes seen foraging in daylight.