Hedgehogs have existed since the time of the dinosaurs and are some of the earliest examples of insectivores. They can be found in forests and grasslands in Europe and Africa. Hedgehogs are omnivorous but prefer insects, and will also eat fruits, berries, meat, and snakes. Females give birth to litters of 3-4 hoglets. Hedgehogs have been hunted by humans and other predators throughout history and have also been used for their meat, spines, and hides. They are known for their ability to roll into a spiny ball for protection.
2. Evolution Hedgehogs have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. They are some of the earliest examples of insectivores. Some scientist believe they may have evolutionary ties to humans, due to similarities in our blood make-up.
3. Habitat The two most common types of hedgehogs are the European hedgehog and the African Pygmy Hedgehog. The European hedgehog is primarily a forest animal, although it may roam small prairies as well. The African hedgehog is a desert and savanna inhabiting creature, although it will sometimes enter human dumps and rural population centers.
4. Diet The hedgehog is omnivorous, although, being an insectivore, it prefers insects. They will also regularly eat fruit, berries, meat, bird eggs, and even poisonous snakes, which it will kill with a bite to the neck with its fangs. Hedgehogs have been known to eat almost anything when its normal food isn’t available. This includes anything from cottage cheese, to maple syrup, to slugs.
5. Life Cycle The average litter of hedgehogs contains 3-4 hoglets. They should be weaned by 6 weeks of age. Hedgehogs can actually breed at 8 weeks old, but normally don’t until they are 5-12 months old. The averaged hedgehog will live to be anywhere from 4-7 years of age, although some live up to 10 years.
6. Predators Hedgehogs are hunted by foxes, badgers, and birds-of-prey. Also, during the Middle Ages in Europe, hedgehogs were the victims of many myths and misunderstandings, such as people believing they suckled milk from cows, reducing their ability to produce milk. This led to them being hunted for rewards.
7. Human Uses Hedgehogs have been used by humans for a number of things, such as for making certain medicines, using their spines as fence deterrents and sewing needles, and using their hide to make parchment. Hedgehogs were once eaten by many many cultures, and still are in South Africa. They are prepared by rolling the hedgehog in clay, then cooking it, after which the clay is removed and the spines are pulled out with it.
8. Peculiar Habits Hedgehogs have a few notable habits and abilities. One, they can famously roll up into a very spiny ball, discouraging the eating of itself. Next, the hedgehog is nocturnal, as any owner can tell you, for they will sometimes run all night on their exercise wheel. Finally, hedgehogs will often “self-anoint”, that is, rub their frothy saliva all over their quills. It is not known why this is done, but scientist assume it is to mask their smell by licking an object and spreading the scent all over themselves. There are quite a few other notable traits about the hedgehog, but these are the most important.
9. My Hedgehog! This is Ginny, my female African Pygmy hedgehog, who I got for my 9th birthday. Sadly, I had to sell her back to the breeder when we moved to Germany.
10. Credits Images: Google Images Reference: An Owner’s Guide to a Happy Healthy Pet-The Hedgehog by Dawn Wrobel The Guide to Owning a Hedgehog by Audrey Pavia
