When provisions disappear from the forest house and the entourage fades and is covered with a snow blanket, the "clever thorn" already has a lifesaver ring from cold and hunger.
As soon as the hedgehog smells winter approaching the forest, its appetite grows to the size of the Universe. Now it rolls through the forest like a bowling ball, completely forgetting about table manners. The buffet fan picks up everything, and does not take breaks for an aperitif. For breakfast, the hedgehog has pizza with larvae, for lunch - berry and fruit borscht, for dinner - pilaf with crickets in mushroom sauce. And something more substantial will be served for dinner!
The hedgehog does not have fasting and unloading days (from August to September). And do not call the small glutton a gourmand. This is a suspension working on immunity from hungry death!
Smart house
In the summer period, the hedgehog hides and snuggles up under any bush. And by winter, it either finds a suitable burrow, or digs one itself: 15-20 cm in diameter is quite enough. Then the hostess scurries through the forest in search of dry standing and systematically brings it home.
Here she rushes along the carpet of various grasses for so long until it turns into a well-trodden trail. The compacted material works on the "warm floor" system - the cold conductivity is minimal.
On top of the flooring, hedgehogs lay a soft blanket of lighter straw. This will provide a reliable conditioning system. And as a final touch - it activates security. The entrance is blocked with a "cork" of mud, grass, and moss. Both camouflage and protection from enemies.
Winter blues
Settling at the bottom of the shelter, the "living burdock" sinks into darkness. If in warm weather the hedgehog's pulse rate is 180 beats per minute, then with cooling it drops to 20-60.
Not long ago, the veins were actively pumping blood, but now they resemble lifeless twigs - the biological fluid barely warms in them. The hedgehog has taken an unpaid vacation in its career as a hunter.
Lack of means of subsistence forces it to eat the remnants of past luxury. But this has to be done slowly, so the body switches to minimal power mode, consuming subcutaneous fat in tiny portions.
Supporting life is the "looped battery". The hedgehog curls up into a ball to reduce heat loss. Wrapped in the shawl of anabiosis, the hedgehog will spend the frosty time in the burrow, and in the spring will emerge in full force for the hunt!
