Do hedgehogs eat spiders?

As hedgehogs are insectivores, you can answer the question of whether hedgehogs eat spiders yourself. The answer is clearly YES. In addition to spiders, centipedes and millipedes as well as earwigs, earthworms, night butterflies and other insects are also part of the hedgehog's diet.

Content

Do hedgehogs eat spiders?
- Hedgehogs love spiders
  - Hedgehogs eat what they get
  - Hedgehogs eat insects for their protein

Hedgehogs love spiders

As soon as dusk sets in, the hedgehog goes in search of food. With its very good sense of smell, it is soon on the trail of spiders and the like. The insectivore not only loves to eat spiders, but also any other species it comes across. It is not uncommon for hedgehogs to eat the eggs of ground-nesting birds. Even carrion is on its menu.

Hedgehogs eat what they get

Hedgehogs are not really picky when it comes to food. If it doesn't find enough spiders to eat, it will also eat other prey. These include earthworms as well as other beetles and snails. Young hedgehogs are even less choosy. They also like to eat woodlice and the like. Older hedgehogs, on the other hand, are more choosy and prefer not to eat unpleasant-tasting prey.

Hedgehogs eat insects for their protein

Hedgehogs need a lot of protein so that they can grow and develop muscles. This is also necessary so that the hedgehog's wounded tissue can regenerate better and faster. Hedgehogs find sufficient protein and other proteins in spiders and other insects. Fiber is just as important for hedgehogs as protein. It needs these for digestion. Hedgehogs find the corresponding proteins in the chitin panels of their prey.

No matter what you Hedgehogs to eat you won't even be able to get close to the food that nature provides. For this reason, you should avoid feeding the hedgehogs if possible. In addition, the hedgehog would get used to the convenient food far too quickly and forget how to catch spiders and the like.

Author

Garden animal

Garden animal - A life with nature

Welcome to my animal blog! My name is Dirk and I am happy to take you on my journey through the fascinating world of animals and gardening.

Born 54 years ago, I have had an insatiable curiosity for the animal world around me since childhood. Although I have moved professionally in other industries, my true passion has always been animals and nature. It is remarkable how a small garden has become such an important part of my life.

Many of my fondest memories are associated with the animals that share our home. Whether it's the curious squirrels that scurry across the trees in the morning, the colorful variety of birds that visit our feeders, or the busy bees and butterflies that pollinate our flowers, every moment with them is invaluable to me.

This blog is my contribution to share my experiences, discoveries and insights with like-minded people. Here I will share stories of unforgettable encounters with animals, give tips on gardening and creating wildlife-friendly habitats, and take you on my journeys through nature.

Thank you so much for being here!

Cordial,
Dirk aka garden animal