The hedgehog, known for its quills, is the most famous prickly creature. At the slightest hint of danger, it curls up into a ball, attempting to ward off any potential threat. Hedgehogs are not only found in forests or parks but can also make themselves comfortable in your backyard or garden.
Children and adults alike are fascinated when they encounter this spiky little creature, often featured in folklore. Here, AdmiGram.com has compiled some intriguing facts about the lives of these small, spiky animals, sure to captivate both young and old alike. Did you know these facts about hedgehogs?
Hedgehogs: fascinating facts for kids and adults
© Sierra NiCole Narvaeth / Unsplash
- As scientists tell us, hedgehogs are one of the oldest mammals on Earth. They have been treading the earth for about 15 million years now.
- A hedgehog has 36 teeth, almost like humans, which can also fall out as they age.
- Children’s books show hedgehogs carrying apples, but they can’t. The myth traces back to Pliny the Elder. Its origin remains a mystery.
- Hedgehogs are essentially predators, but contrary to what many believe, they do not hunt mice. This is a myth. Hedgehogs cannot catch mice because mice run much faster than hedgehogs.
- Eared hedgehogs don’t curl up in danger. They’re fast and try to prick attackers. If a eared hedgehog is caught by an enemy, it will jump and try to prick the attacker in sensitive areas.
- To survive winter hibernation, a hedgehog needs to weigh at least 1 lb (500 grams). When a hedgehog goes into hibernation, its metabolic processes slow down. Its body temperature drops to 32 °F (0°C), and its heart rate decreases from 170 beats per minute to 5. Hedgehogs living in countries with a dry climate do not go into hibernation.
© Taylor Binkley / Unsplash
- If a hedgehog doesn’t find shelter before the temperature drops to 42 °F (+6 °C), it might fall asleep, and when the temperature drops to freezing, the hedgehog will freeze and die. The temperature inside a hedgehog’s dwelling never drops below zero, even at -4 °F (-20 °C). The awakening phase after winter hibernation can last for several hours.
- Over the winter, a hedgehog can lose up to 40% of its weight. Therefore, upon awakening, it immediately sets off in search of food. Hedgehogs can sense prey from several meters away. While they can distinguish colors, their vision is quite poor, so they rely on their hearing and sense of smell to navigate.
- In a single day, a hedgehog can cover a distance of up to 1 mile (2 kilometers). The territory of one hedgehog can span 20 hectares. Hedgehogs never dig burrows for themselves; they use existing hollows under bushes and debris.
- Male hedgehogs never participate in raising their offspring. Hedgehog babies are born with soft quills hidden beneath their skin. The first quills start to appear about an hour after birth. By the third week of life, hedgehog babies have all their milk teeth.
- There is a myth that hedgehogs love milk, but in reality, cow’s milk can be deadly to them as they cannot tolerate lactose. For feeding young hedgehogs, cat milk, which can be bought at any veterinary pharmacy, is more suitable.
© Fotografías con Limón / Unsplash
- Around the fifth week, hedgehog babies leave the nest and follow their mother. Their instinct drives them to do so.
- Hedgehogs can move even through marshy areas. They are good swimmers, but they can’t stay in the water for long; they sink quickly.
- When a hedgehog detects a strong odor, it starts producing saliva that covers its quills intensely. Scientists still haven’t determined why this happens.
- In the past, there was a belief that hedgehogs purposefully raid chicken coops and eat eggs. This is not true. If a hedgehog gets into a chicken coop, it may eat only cracked or broken eggs. The animal’s teeth are not adapted for breaking eggshells.
- Albino hedgehogs make up one individual in a thousand.
- Hedgehogs have about 3,000 quills. Over the course of a year, a hedgehog replaces only one out of every three quills.
- Hedgehogs can safely eat highly toxic beetles, such as blister beetles. They are also immune to the venom of vipers, although they do not actively hunt these snakes. However, if the opportunity arises, a hedgehog will devour a viper with great relish.
image on top: Siem van Woerkom / Unsplash
