Night-time footage captured a hedgehog sharing an evening meal with hungry foxes - and fighting back when one gets too greedy.<br /><br />The unfazed hedgehog was spied munching on left-out cat food when it was approached by three foxes. <br /><br />Two of the animals took it in turns to feed from the dish, eating side by side with the snuffling critter. <br /><br />One of the foxes was even nipped on the nose by the hedgehog after it interrupted his evening meal. <br /><br />Claire Eason, 59, captured the unlikely scene in her back garden in Sunderland at 11pm on Tuesday (11/6).<br /><br />She shared the footage on social media to try and get answers after being left surprised at the hedgehogs bravery.<br /><br />Retired GP and beach artist Claire said: “He's the hard hedgehog of Sunderland.<br /><br />"This was the big draw, I had a bit of kitten food left. Whatever I’ve got I put it out. <br /><br />"There was a fox with a bit of a limp, that’s what I've been keeping an eye on and what triggered the camera. <br /><br />“I put the camera out six times a week. It’s usually a fox, or this hedgehog or a domestic cat. Never would I ever think I would see the animals interacting like this. <br /><br />“I couldn’t find any video of foxes and hedgehogs interacting, that’s why I put the question out online.<br /><br />“I would love to know if people have had any similar experiences. <br /><br />"The first one, the lame one, was pushing its snout to the edge of the bowl but the hedgehog didn't flicker. It must be able to sense that movement. <br /><br />“The second fox, which is definitely the most pushy, just barges in and looks like it gets a nip on the nose. <br /><br />"The third fox just kept away and wasn’t going to disturb the hedgehog at all. <br /><br />“It’s fascinating to see their attitudes towards this little hedgehog. You’d think it’d curl up. I’ve filmed the bowl for six months and never seen them interact before.<br /><br />"It was just mesmerising that the hedgehog was unfazed. It would’ve been there for five minutes. You don’t see two foxes together, it’s like they’re taking turns. <br /><br />“It’s lovely to get a little insight into the animal kingdom. They’re not so dissimilar to people in the characters.”<br /><br />The British hedgehog is now classed as vulnerable to extinction with a third of the population lost since 2000.
