Hedgehogs – A Prickly Pair

Some more video diaries (hedgehogs this time) from Cath Corney’s garden in Woolston.

She asks what these hedgehogs might be doing….

And it looks like the mating dance between male and female. A female hedgehog will keep a male at nose length in this spiny pirouette until she has made up her mind this is the guy for her. Then she will flatten herself to allow the male to approach without more than his ego being punctured.

We are told this dance can go on for hours. Night after night in fact, and can attract other males from some distance.

What do you think?

Let us know if you think this is the mating dance. Or is there some other explanation….

You can find out more about hedgehogs from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.