In the wild hedgehogs live for three or four years, though in good climatic conditions they may reach seven years. Hedgehogs are nocturnal insectivores that hibernate in colder climates. Though primarily having an invertebrate diet hedgehogs have been known to eat carrion, small birds or small mammals. If they come across eggs that are cracked or have been ejected from the nest they will eat these also. In a captive environment they will happily eat dog biscuits and the occasional piece of sweet soft fruit.
Hedgehogs have poor eyesight so rely mostly on hearing and smell to locate and catch their prey.
Having poor vision is not a problem as hedgehogs are nocturnal and spend most of the night searching for food whilst sleeping during the day. Their hearing is so acute that a hedgehog will locate an earthworm by putting its ear to the ground and pulling the worm straight from the soil. Hedgehogs can also be trained to come to a dish of food each night. Dad has a bowl under cover and fills it with broken dog biscuits, the animals come out at approximately dusk and tuck in. In the colder climates hedgehogs will hibernate through the 6 colder months of the year.