Published on: 2026-10-03
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Autumn is the time when hedgehogs actively prepare for winter. Unlike squirrels or beavers, these animals fall into a deep hibernation, so they are now eating intensively to accumulate the necessary energy reserves.
For a successful hibernation, a hedgehog needs to gain a weight of at least 750 grams. The diet mainly consists of invertebrate animals (beetles, earthworms, slugs, and snails), as well as frogs, lizards, and small rodents. Popular notions about hedgehogs loving apples and milk are mistaken. They do not need fruits, and milk can seriously harm their health.
With the onset of cold weather, hedgehogs look for a reliable shelter for their winter sleep. They make nests in abandoned burrows, dense shrubs, hollows under tree roots, among fallen trunks, or in fallen leaves.
During hibernation, the animal’s body temperature drops to almost plus two degrees, and breathing and heartbeat slow down significantly. It remains in this state until April, when the spring sun warms the ground. After that, the animal wakes up and goes hunting.
The common hedgehog is listed in the Red Book of Moscow. You can see the animal in the urban part of the Losiny Ostrov National Park, in the Tushinsky, Ostankino, Moskvoretsky, Pokrovskoye-Streshnevo natural-historical parks, Sokolniki, and other green areas.
Capital city specialists Department of Environmental Management and Protection they remind: a hedgehog should not be taken in hands or fed to avoid interfering with its natural lifestyle. However, if the animal is in an open area at a time when it shouldn’t be active, this is a worrying sign that may indicate illness or injury. In such a situation, it is necessary to call the Moscow Government’s unified information service at: +7 495 777-77-77.
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