All they do is breath and hope the hibernation period ends soon rather than later. Yes, Hedgehogs hibernate by themselves from November to April. Hedgehogs hibernation is the period hedgehogs go into inactivity.

Hedgehog hibernation attempts come from one root issue, low temperature in their habitat.

Among the mammals, hedgehogs, dormice (Nuscardinus avellanarius and Glis glis) and bats (Chiroptera) represent the only true British hibernators.Contrary to popular misconception, hibernation is not simply a long period of sleep, although certain features of hibernation (e.g. However, they can hibernate if the temperature drops and remains low. It’s basically ingrained in their behavior since they hibernate when living in the wild. However, a domesticated African pygmy hedgehog cannot handle the act of hibernation. Hedgehogs usually hibernate from October/November through to March/April. Their hibernation period can vary between 5 to 7 months from October all the way to even April. acclimatised in New Zealand only seem to hibernate for short periods in July and August. In most cases, during hibernation, hedgehogs just roll into a hard ball throughout the period. Any significant and sustained decrease in room temperature can be all it takes to initiate the process of hibernation. During this period they will use up most of their fat stores which have been built up by eating as much as they can over the summer, so it is really important that we correctly feed hedgehogs to get their numbers back up in the UK. The smaller body size of the pygmy hedgehog leaves them more vulnerable to starvation if they do hibernate, as they tend to have lower fat reserves. Juvenile hedgehogs weighing less than 500 grams during late autumn will need help to survive the winter - download our factsheet caring for autumn juvenile hedgehogs (PDF 416KB) for advice. All wild hedgehogs can hibernate, though not all do, depending on temperature, species, and abundance of food. Hedgehogs typically hibernate from autumn to spring (October - March) but this can vary depending on the temperature and food availability . Other species of hedgehogs in the wild may go into a dormant period of activity called estivation when the weather is too hot and dry in the summer. At what temperature do hedgehogs hibernate? Find out what to do with an injured or sick hedgehog or an orphaned young hedgehog. Do Hedgehogs hibernate alone?

They will hide themselves away until the weather gets warmer, where they will be able to forage for food again. They will be slow responding or even not responding. (A shed is a perfect retreat) It’s not uncommon to see hedgehogs forage at night if it’s a bit warmer outside. Where and when do hedgehogs hibernate? This applies especially to those that may be kept indoors through winter - e.g.

The ideal temperature for hedgehogs is 73-78° F. In the wintertime, you can use heating pads and space heaters to keep the proper cage temperature. During hibernation hedgehogs are not really asleep, instead they drop their body temperature to match their surroundings and enter a state of torpor. Those hedgehogs visiting your garden over the next month will be trying to get as much body fat built up as possible so that they can be ready to hibernate, so please do keep providing food until you start to notice that the food stops being taken, or gradually less and less is eaten – then you can gradually stop putting food out altogether. The first and most important thing to do is to gradually increase the body temperature of your pet. They will usually find a safe, secure area that is sheltered from the elements and weathering.

Research shows that most hedgehogs begin hibernation in either October or November, and can remain in the state until as late as March or April. Is It Dangerous For Pet Hedgehogs To Hibernate?

They spend the warmer months building fat reserves to sustain them through their periods of in activity. By autumn, hedgehogs have dramatically put on weight in preparation for their hibernation.

In most parts of the world, this period usually represents the coldest temperatures of the year. In summer, hedgehogs shelter during the day in temporary nests of leaves, moss and grass.

Some symptoms of this are becoming lethargic and being cool to the touch. Hibernation is a life-threatening emergency. Because they originate from Central Africa, where the average annual temperature is around 79°F (26°C), wild African pygmy hedgehogs don’t generally hibernate.

Hedgehogs are native to warm climates and cannot tolerate the cold.
The reason they hibernate is because food sources are scarce throughout winter. When do hedgehogs hibernate? Cold-blooded animals like snakes, fish, frogs, and turtles need to spend the winter inactive, or … Even in Britain, if there is enough food and the air temperature is not too low, hedgehogs need not hibernate. This is because of their size and the fact that they don’t have enough fat to make it through a hibernation cycle.
Some of the symptoms are the body of the hedgehog becomes cool to the touch … Brumation is an extreme slowing down of their metabolism. Actually, the hedgehogs are very comfortable in warm climates and they cannot tolerate the cold, where if the temperature drops below 65F then the hedgehog may begin to show some of the symptoms of hypothermia which is often called as the hibernation.