Find out facts about hedgehog habits, evolution, feeding, if they can be kept as pets, etc. Lots of interesting information about hedgehogs in this article.

Hedgehogs - 10 Interesting Facts About Them
By Thomas Goldman

1) Hedgehogs are found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. They also live in New Zealand but only because they were introduced there.

2) There are seventeen species of hedgehog and they have remained similar for about fifteen million years. Their life of eating insects and being active mainly at night is similar to that of early mammals during the end of the age of the dinosaurs. They live in a variety of habitats from forests to deserts.

3) Other names for hedgehogs include "furze-pig" and "hedge-pig". The "pig" or "hog" part of their name comes from either their pig-like snout, or the grunting noise they make.

4) The spines of a hedgehog are made out of modified hairs. The spines of a hedgehog usually only fall out when they are growing up when they lose their first set of spines and replace them with adult ones.

5) Hedgehogs living in forests have only a few predators such as owls and ferrets, but when they live in more open environments they can also be attacked by wolves and foxes.

6) Although all species of hedgehogs can hibernate some of them do not do so in practice depending on the temperature and food supplies.

7) Hedgehogs can be kept as pets (although this is illegal in some US states), and usually get on well with dogs and cats. They have become much more popular as pets recently.

8) While hedgehogs are generally thought of as insectivores, they generally eat a wide variety of food, both animals and plants including snails, fruit, eggs, snakes, worms, grass roots etc.

9) Hedgehogs are welcomed into gardens as they eat pests such as snails and insects. They should never be given milk or any dairy products. If they are present in a garden chemical insecticides should not be used.

10) Hedgehogs have been eaten since ancient times where they were covered in clay and baked, and are still used as food today in some countries.

Hedgehog Pictures cute and interesting, showing their fascinating character and habits.

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