Herbie the Hedgehog’s winter hidey hole

Matt Lowe, Collections Manager at the Museum of Zoology, writes: A couple of months ago my wife and I were tidying up the pots of herbs we keep next to kitchen door when we heard a shuffling noise and what sounded awfully like snoring. That was when I realised I had succeeded in giving an overwintering hedgehog a home. In 2019, not long after we … Continue reading Herbie the Hedgehog’s winter hidey hole

Startling murmuration in the sky at sunset

12 Days of Winter Wildlife: 12 Days of Critters

Throughout this week we have been sharing some amazing winter wildlife with you, and today we have joined this all up as our 12 Days of Critters. Why not download the song sheet and sing along with your new festive favourite: Find out about the 12 critters, and scroll down to learn how to make your own origami starling murmuration to decorate your home. Winter … Continue reading 12 Days of Winter Wildlife: 12 Days of Critters

Photograph of a pair of foxes looking toward the viewer

12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Winter Mammals

For day six of our 12 Days of Winter Wildlife we are celebrating the world of winter mammals, particularly focusing on those that might be out and about during the colder months of the year. One mammal that is doing pretty well in towns and cities as well as the countryside in the UK is the red fox. We are lucky enough to have a … Continue reading 12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Winter Mammals

Ladybirds in the crevices of a branch

12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Hibernation

Here we are on day five, and if you feel like sleeping through the winter months, you are not the only ones. Many animals lower their activity or even fully hibernate over winter. You may know of hedgehogs, dormice and bats doing this, but did you know that there are insects that hibernate too? You can help hibernating wildlife through the winter. Follow the Butterfly … Continue reading 12 Days of Winter Wildlife: Hibernation

Animal Alphabet title page

Animal Alphabet: Aardvark to Zebra

Have you been watching our Animal Alphabet virtual tours of the Museum? Each week we have taken a different letter of the alphabet and explored the animals beginning with that letter in the Museum’s displays. We reached the end of the alphabet last week, so here is our final Animal Alphabet post. We have chosen some of our favourites to give you the whole alphabet, … Continue reading Animal Alphabet: Aardvark to Zebra

Heart and dart moth in trap

Zoology Live Day 5: Nighttime Wildlife

Welcome back for day 5 of our online Zoology Live festival. So far we have been exploring the wildlife you might see around you during the day, but today it is the turn of noctural wildlife. We were live on YouTube at 4pm on Friday 26 June, where we delved into the world of moths and bats, with LIVE interview with moth expert Annette Shelford. … Continue reading Zoology Live Day 5: Nighttime Wildlife

Photograph of a hedgehog skin and skeleton

Animal Alphabet: H is for Hedgehog

Join us every Tuesday as we make an alphabet from the animals in the Museum of Zoology. Today is the letter H: H is for hedgehog, hoopoe, hippopotamus, honeycreepers, hoatzin, horse and heron. Can you think of any others? Join us next week for animals in the Museum beginning with the letters I and J, including a fabulous fossil and a mammal that jumps… Continue reading Animal Alphabet: H is for Hedgehog

Photograph of a hedgehog

A Prickly Tale

To celebrate Hedgehog Awareness Week, here’s a specially written Puggle Club story inspired by the hedgehog on display in the Museum. Hungry Hedgehog Words and illustrations by Rosalyn Wade The moon was full and the stars were bright As Hedgehog went snuffling round for a bite ‘A morsel of snail and a mouthful of slug, ‘A nice wriggly worm and a fine, crunchy bug, ‘What … Continue reading A Prickly Tale

Hedgehog on grass

Become a Helpful Hedgehog Hero

You can provide a safe space for British wildlife right in your garden or local green space. This is especially useful for creatures, including hedgehogs, if you live in an urban environment and can make a real difference to their survival. These unique prickly mammals are a favourite amongst the UK public (especially our ‘over-stuffed’ Museum specimen who has seen leaner days) and if we … Continue reading Become a Helpful Hedgehog Hero