Among people, it is believed that hedgehogs hunt mice better than cats. Animals are specially tamed, settled in a chicken coop, so that at night the animals fought with mice, rats. The science of life, the behavior of animals, knows a lot, like whether hedgehogs eat mice.
Features of animal nutrition
19 species of hedgehogs live in nature. In our places, the common hedgehog is more common. He lives in the forest, in the fields. The body is covered with keratinized hair called needles. In an adult, there are about 6 thousand of them.
The animal belongs to the mammalian family, is a predator. Regarding nutrition, it seems that hedgehogs are omnivores. Their diet includes:
- earthworms;
- beetles;
- frogs
- a snake;
- snakes
- lizards;
- different types of mice.
Contrary to popular belief, animals do not eat mushrooms, berries, remain indifferent to apples. The main diet is insects, occasionally the hedgehog catches mice, especially vole. Forest and house mice can also be his dinner.
Interesting!
On the body of the animal, under a layer of thorns often wind up ticks. The animal cannot get them on its own. He approaches berries, apples, spikes on thorns. Sour smell, juice repels ticks. In this way, the animal gets rid of parasites, does not drag apples in kilograms to make reserves for the winter.
The nutritional characteristics of mammals are often used by people for their own purposes. In the fight against pests, all means are good, but natural enemies are especially valued, among which are the prickly animals. The question of whether the hedgehogs eat mice is haunting. It is very convenient to settle a couple of prickly animals in the district, forget about rodents in the garden, in gardens, chicken coops forever. In the dark, the animal will slowly engage in the use of pests, without creating a lot of noise.
Hunting instincts
What hedgehogs eat mice has long been known. This is evidenced by the statements of scientists, the animals were seen for such occupation by eyewitnesses.
On a note!
The villagers are trying to appease the animal with milk, so that he remains to live near the house. According to scientific information, this product is contraindicated. A hedgehog has a terrible eating disorder, as a result of which the animal runs the risk of dying.
How hedgehogs catch mice remains a mystery to many. They do not differ in flexibility, speed, quiet behavior. They constantly snort, rustle with thorns. Hedgehog hunts only at night, includes an organ of smell. It is very interesting to watch how the animal catches prey.
There are several hunting options:
- Looks for holes, waits until the mouse appears at the exit. Quickly grabs with sharp teeth around the neck, inflicts a fatal bite.
- He hears the rustle of mice, hides for a while in the grass, in a dark place. As soon as prey appears on the horizon, strives to catch food.
A small prickly clumsy animal is not able to chase rodents, in hunting instincts it is much inferior to cats. Prefers a vole, an ordinary gray mouse. Rats, moles, practically does not eat other small rodents.
Misconceptions
That the hedgehog eats mice does not give reason to use the animal as a natural weapon in the fight against rodents. The animal will always give preference to bugs, worms, shrews, alas. The mouse for him, as a delicacy, is occasionally possible. No animal can replace cats in the fight against domestic pests.
