Northern White-breasted Hedgehog
Erinaceus roumanicus
Unlike the Western European hedgehog, the Northern White-breasted species rarely digs burrows, preferring to build its nests out of dry leaves and grass in hidden above-ground hollows.
- Scientific name
- Erinaceus roumanicus
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Mammalia › Eulipotyphla › Erinaceidae › Erinaceus
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Deciduous forest edges, scrublands, grasslands, agricultural fields, and urban gardens.
- Diet
- Omnivorous, primarily consuming insects, earthworms, slugs, snails, small amphibians, and occasional fallen fruit.
- Range
- Eastern Europe, Balkan Peninsula, Russia, Western Asia
- Size
- Length: 20-35 cm; Weight: 600-1200 g
- Lifespan
- 3 to 6 years
- Active
- nocturnal
- Threats
- Road mortality, habitat fragmentation, pesticide use reducing prey populations, and hazards in suburban gardens.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but defensive. If encountered, keep a safe distance of 2 meters to avoid causing the animal to curl into a defensive ball. Do not touch with bare hands, as their spines are sharp and can harbor ticks, fleas, or fungal spores. If pricked or bitten, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water, and seek medical attention if infection develops.
The northern white-breasted hedgehog ( Erinaceus roumanicus ) is a species of hedgehog.
Photo: Radu Teodoreanu, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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