Hedgehogs typically have babies in the months of June and July, although the "hoglet season" can begin as early as spring following a mild winter and extend through to autumn. Female hedgehogs can have one to two litters per year, with an average litter size of four to five young, though sometimes up to seven. The gestation period for hedgehogs is approximately 35 days. Young hedgehogs, or hoglets, usually leave the nest about three to four weeks after birth to start foraging with their mother, becoming independent after about ten days of this foraging period. Sometimes, a second litter is born in late September or October, but these later litters have a lower chance of surviving the winter.
