Hunting in Romania chase critters even in their burrows. Fox hunting ("vanatoarea de vulpe") is also featured in Romanian literature and folk tales, where the cunning of the fox is a common theme. Small game furbearers are plentiful in Romania and usually hunted with the aid of dogs and snow tracking. Species include European badger ("Meles meles"), European hare ("Lepus europaeus"), European pine marten ("Martes martes"), beech marten ("Martes foina"), European polecat ("Mustela putorius"), ermine ("Mustela erminea") and weasel ("Mustela nivalis"). A rare animal is the marmot ("Marmota marmota"). Otter ("Lutra lutra") can be found in the Danube Delta and other marshlands, and
European hedgehog days they can roll into a ball. Weaning occurs at four to six weeks of age. European hedgehogs may live to ten years of age, although the average life expectancy is three years. Starvation is the most common cause of death, usually occurring during hibernation. If alarmed, the animal will roll into a ball to protect itself. Many potential predators are repelled by its spines, but predation does occur. Remains of hedgehogs have been found in the stomachs of European badgers ("Meles meles"), red foxes ("Vulpes vulpes") and pine martens ("Martes martes"). A large portion of these may be from