I have been collecting data relating to hibernation of the European hedgehog for many years. These include weight prior to, during and following emergence from hibernation with associated dates. The aim is to help shed more light on factors that trigger the onset of hibernation and emergence.
Thanks very much Stacey. That's very useful indeed. At the moment I have much data that I need to analyse and make some sense of. They include weights and dates for the onset of hibernation and emergence in the UK of the European hedgehog.
Hi Toni,
do you have any data on the direction (in terms of compass direction in degrees) in which the hedgehogs are aligned during hibernation? If not, do you see any chance do get such data in coming winters?
Hi, not really possible to obtain such data as hedgehogs are curled in a tight ball with no part of the face visible. Have you been looking at alignment during hibernation with other animals?
No, so far I haven't looked at alignment in hibernating animals but only in resting animals were very often you can see a strong preference to align along the north-south axis of the geomagnetic field. I would expect the alignment preference to be much stronger during hibernation since the choice of direction is a crucial long-term decision. At least that is what one of our theories of the function of magnetic alignment would suggest. But of course it's hard to tell any alignment of a spiky ball of fur. Any chance to get video material of the intial phase?
That's very interesting. Not possible to get video footage of initial phase, sadly, as hedgehogs typically surround themselves very closely with a tightly wound nest of leaves etc.
Some years back we looked at growth lines in dentition before, during, and after hibernation events. I wonder if Hedgehogs have something smiler that could be looked at.
Article Hibernation is Recorded in Lower Incisors of Recent and Foss...
Thanks for that suggestion Daniel. The problem would be that it is very difficult to look at a hedgehog's teeth. Also I wouldn't want to stress them at all. The hedgehogs that come to me are ones that have been found out in the day and are sick or injured and in need of care. I run a hedgehog rescue centre (for 24 years now) in my spare time. Most recover well, following treatment, and are returned back to the wild. It has enable me to be able to collect massive amounts of data and, as such, to learn a great deal about these interesting animals that are facing a rapid decline in numbers in the UK. Hopefully, the records that I have collected, coupled with data supplied to me by others, will help to shed further light on the events and triggers linked to the process of hibernation.
You might check out Greg Florant's work with marmots and ground squirrels: http://www.biology.colostate.edu/people/florant/
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