3957-Hedgehog 21cm.L

Hedgehog

Description Hedgehogs can naturally be found in Europe, Africa, and Asia. No living species of hedgehogs are native to North America, and no species are native to Australia. These animals got their name because of their foraging method—they root through the hedge to look for tiny creatures that they eat such as insects, centipedes, mice, worms, frogs, snails, and snake. As they pick their way through the hedges, they make grunts similar to pigs. Because of this, they are named hedgehogs. They normally build their nests composed of leaves and moss under vegetation found in farmlands, gardens, or parks where there is plenty of food. Hedgehogs are classified as omnivorous and their diet is mainly composed of insects, beetles, snails, mushrooms, worms, bird eggs, frogs, melons, grass roots, caterpillars, slugs, watermelons, and carrion. When they are hunting, they depend on their senses of smell and hearing because they have poor eyesight. Their most distinctive characteristic is their spines made of keratin that cover their back. The spines of hedgehogs do not have poison and cannot be easily removed from their body. Once they are attacked by predators, they will curl into a ball as a defensive mechanism. They also normally sleep in this curled position. They undergo quilling, wherein they shed their baby spines to substitute them with adult spines. They may also lose their spines when they are sick or under stress. Their forefoot and claws are strong and suitable for digging, while their under parts are covered with fur that is greyish brown in color. Aside from digging, they can also swim, climb, and sprint at a speed of up to 6 miles an hour.

Status Globally, the International Union for Conservation of Nature categorizes hedgehogs as Least Concern. Despite this, they are still protected under the law. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act in Britain, these creatures may not be trapped without a license. The main threats to their population are habitat loss and manmade influences.