Abstract
Little information exists on the nesting of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in the harsh northern environment, although this aspect has specific importance for the species’ survival in this region. We studied the nest types and nesting site selection of radio tagged hedgehogs in urban areas in Eastern Finland. Altogether, four different nest types were discovered and one of them (the pre-hibernation nest) is described here for the first time. Hedgehogs preferred residential areas for nesting during the mating and post-mating seasons while in the pre-hibernation season and hibernation period nesting was more common in forest areas. Nest constructions were closely related to materials found in the nest vicinity. During the active period, males used on average 24 nests and changed them 30 times, whereas females used 17 nests and changed them 26 times. The number of female nests and frequency of nest change increased from post-mating to pre-hibernation seasons, while in males both decreased. In general, female and male nests were situated within their established long-term home range, but in the pre-hibernation season over 30 % of male nests were situated outside of it. In post-mating and pre-hibernation seasons, females avoided other individuals of the same sex; this was demonstrated by the lack of nests in other female core areas. Hedgehogs hibernate for around 223 days, which is the longest reported hibernation period for this species. The results of the present study emphasise the importance of forest and diverse residential areas including forest patches for the hedgehog’s nesting habitat.
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Acknowledgments
Thanks are due to M. Haatanen, A. Kirjavainen and P. Rännänen for their invaluable help. The authors are also very grateful to K. Sotejeff-Wilson and L. Murto for linguistic revision, M. Valtonen for commenting on the manuscript, and J.-P. Rautio for help with the figures. Constructive criticism by two anonymous reviewers helped to improve the manuscript. This study was supported by the Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the E. J. Sariola Foundation, the Ella and Georg Ehrnrooth Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation; the North Karelia Regional Fund, the Oskar Öflunds Foundation and the Finnish Doctoral Programme in Environmental Science and Technology (EnSTe).
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Communicated by: Andrzej Zalewski
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Rautio, A., Valtonen, A., Auttila, M. et al. Nesting patterns of European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) under northern conditions. Acta Theriol 59, 173–181 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-013-0150-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-013-0150-0