Where do mice and hedgehogs live? - briefly
Mice occupy fields, forests, barns, and residential buildings, nesting in concealed crevices. Hedgehogs prefer hedgerows, gardens, woodlands, and leaf litter, taking shelter under logs or dense vegetation.
Where do mice and hedgehogs live? - in detail
Mice occupy a wide range of environments, from temperate forests and grasslands to urban areas. In natural settings they nest in burrows, under dense vegetation, or within fallen logs, where they find shelter and access to seeds, insects, and plant material. In cities they exploit cracks in walls, basements, and attic spaces, often nesting in insulation or stored food supplies. Their adaptability to varied microhabitats enables survival across continents.
Hedgehogs prefer habitats that provide both cover and foraging opportunities. Typical locations include hedgerows, woodland edges, and scrubland where leaf litter and low shrubs offer protection from predators. They also inhabit agricultural fields, gardens, and suburban green spaces, using piles of compost, stone walls, and abandoned burrows for daytime resting. Proximity to insects, earthworms, and small vertebrates determines site selection, while access to dry, concealed spots supports their nocturnal activity.
Key factors influencing the distribution of both species:
- Availability of shelter (burrows, dense vegetation, human-made structures)
- Presence of food sources (seeds, insects, invertebrates)
- Climate tolerance (temperate to mild climates, with hedgehogs favoring milder winters)
- Human landscape modifications (urban gardens, farm buildings, waste storage)
Overall, mice thrive in highly adaptable niches ranging from wild burrows to indoor crevices, while hedgehogs favor semi-natural environments with ample ground cover and abundant invertebrate prey.