Hedgehogs aren’t rodents. Unlike another spiny mammal, the porcupine, hedgehogs aren’t rodents. They are considered to be omnivorous, with the main part of their diet consisting of insects. They will also eat small mammals, reptiles and amphibians, carrion, eggs, mushrooms, fruit and the occasional greens, like grass roots.
Hedgehogs are native to Europe, Asia and Africa. There are 17 hedgehog species we currently know of. The European hedgehog has been introduced to New Zealand by settlers and is considered a pest since it is a threat to the native flora and fauna.
Hedgehogs got their name because of their foraging habits. While digging through the undergrowth of hedgerows and bushes they make loud pig-like noises. They also have a long snout which slightly resembles that of a pig.
Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant.
Many people were taught to put a bowl of milk outside for the hedgehogs, but this is actually bad for them! If you want to help the hedgehogs in your area you can feed them dry or wet cat food and give them a home.
Hedgehog quills are hollow hairs hardened by keratin. They have a complex network of air chambers which makes them lightweight but strong at the same time. Hedgehog quills are not easily detached (unlike those of porcupines) and aren’t barbed nor poisonous. However, some people break out in hives after handling a hedgehog. The babies are born with their quills hidden under a fluid-filled membrane. This will shrivel up and reveal the quills within a couple of hours after birth. They will then go through various “quillings” in the next couple of weeks in which their baby quills get replaced by adult ones.
Hedgehogs have poor eyesight. They are nocturnal animals and mainly rely on their excellent senses of hearing and smell.
Hedgehogs are solitary animals. They live alone and usually only pair up to mate. The mother raises the babies (called hoglets) on her own and they will leave her after 5-7 weeks to go their own way.
Hedgehogs hibernate in winter when it’s too cold to find food. In warmer climates they do the same during droughts and heat strokes. This process is called aestivation. In moderate climates they remain active all year round.
Hedgehogs display a strange behaviour called (self)anointing. They cover themselves in frothy saliva after encountering a new or strong taste/scent. No one knows why they do this, although there are a few theories. Some think it’s a way of covering their quills with bacteria, to offer extra protection against predators. Others think it might be a way of camouflaging themselves by adapting to the scents of their environment.
Hedgehogs have a natural resistance to snake venom. Contrary to popular belief they aren’t completely immune and can still die after a viper bite, but they have a higher resistance than most animals and are one of only four known mammalian groups to have mutations that protect against another type of snake venom (α-neurotoxin) – the others are pigs, honey badgers and mongooses.
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