Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are covered with prickly spines on most of their bodies. The animals face, legs and belly are the only areas not covered. The animal will curl up into a ball and tuck its head, tail and legs in for protection. Their spines are used for defense

At birth the spines are soft and short. A short time after birth their spines harden, become stiffer, sharper and longer. Hedgehogs primarily dine on insects, small mice, snails, lizards, frogs, eggs and snakes. They primarily stay on the ground but do swim and climb well

A group of hedgehogs are called an array. Hedgehogs have been commonly kept as pets but there are a few states that consider them wild animals and illegal to keep as pets.

Hedgehogs have between 5,000 to 7,000 quills. Muscles in the animals back helps them to raise and lower the quills due to their situation. While their quills are sharp they are not poisonous like the porcupines.

There are seventeen species of hedgehogs none are native to America or Australia all were introduced by man.