Overview
Erinaceus europeaus
Among the last animals to be imported, hedgehogs were liberated in 1870, 1885 1892 and brought to the North Island about 1910. Originally introduced to control snails and other pests in gardens in Christchurch, they now have spread throughout NZ from beach dunes to alpine tussock where they prey on invertebrates, frogs, lizards and eggs of ground nesting birds.