Excerpt
Introduction: Meet the Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are small animals with a big personality—and a lot of spines. If you’ve ever seen one, the first thing you probably noticed is that they look a little bit like a walking hairbrush. But those spines aren’t just for looks. They’re a big part of what makes a hedgehog a hedgehog.
There are seventeen different species of hedgehogs in the world, and they all share some important traits. For starters, they’re mammals. That means they have fur (even if it’s mixed with spines), they’re warm-blooded, and they feed their babies milk. Hedgehogs are part of a special group of animals called insectivores. That means insects are a big part of their diet, although they’ll eat other things too—like worms, slugs, and even small snakes if they’re feeling brave.
Hedgehogs are known for being quiet and shy. During the day, they like to sleep, usually tucked into a burrow or under a pile of leaves. At night, they come out and search for food. This kind of animal is called nocturnal, which means it’s active during the night instead of the day. Their sharp sense of smell and hearing helps them find tasty snacks in the dark.
One thing people often wonder is how hedgehogs got their name. It actually comes from two parts. The “hedge” part comes from the fact that they often live near hedgerows, which are rows of bushes or small trees that grow at the edge of fields. The “hog” part comes from the snorting sounds they make when they’re searching for food. Put those together, and you get “hedgehog”—an animal that snorts near hedges. It might sound silly, but it’s a pretty good description.
If you look closely at a hedgehog, you’ll see that it has a pointed snout, tiny black eyes, and small ears that stick out just a little. Its body is short and round, and it moves with a bit of a shuffle. But the most famous part of a hedgehog is its spines. These aren’t like porcupine quills. They don’t shoot out, and they’re not barbed. Instead, they’re stiff hairs made of keratin—the same stuff that human fingernails are made of. A single hedgehog can have between 5,000 and 7,000 spines on its back. That’s a lot of protection.
When a hedgehog feels threatened or scared, it uses a special muscle to curl up into a tight ball. Its spines stick out in every direction, turning it into a prickly fortress that’s hard for predators to bite. This defense move is one of the reasons hedgehogs have survived in the wild for so long. Not many animals want to mess with a ball of spikes.
Even though hedgehogs are often quiet, they can make quite a few noises. They grunt, sniff, snuffle, and even chirp or squeak. These sounds help them communicate with each other or show how they’re feeling. If a hedgehog is angry or scared, it might hiss or puff to warn others to stay away.
You might think all hedgehogs look the same, but there are actually differences depending on where they come from. European hedgehogs are bigger and have a mix of brown and cream-colored spines. African pygmy hedgehogs, which are sometimes kept as pets, are smaller and often have lighter coloring. There are even desert hedgehogs that can survive in hot, dry places with very little water.
Speaking of pets, not all hedgehogs can be kept at home. In some places, it’s against the law to own one because they’re considered wild animals or could hurt local ecosystems if they escape. And while pet hedgehogs can be friendly and fun to watch, they also need special care. They need a warm, safe place to live, the right food, and lots of time to sleep. Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they’re easy to take care of.
In the wild, hedgehogs are an important part of nature. Because they eat bugs and pests, they help keep gardens and farms healthy. Gardeners in some parts of the world even leave little holes in their fences so hedgehogs can wander through. A hedgehog on patrol can be a helpful visitor for anyone trying to grow vegetables or flowers.
Some hedgehogs hibernate during the winter, especially in colder places. Hibernation is when an animal slows its body way down to save energy. During this time, the hedgehog doesn’t eat or move much. It curls up in a nest of leaves or grass and stays that way for weeks or even months. When the weather gets warmer, it wakes up and goes back to its usual routine.
Even though hedgehogs have a lot going for them, they do face some challenges. In many places, their numbers are going down because of things like cars, pesticides, and loss of habitat. That’s why it’s important to learn about them and understand how we can help. Even simple things—like leaving parts of a garden wild or avoiding harmful chemicals—can make a big difference for these little creatures.
Hedgehogs have been around for millions of years. Fossils show that ancient hedgehogs lived during the time of the dinosaurs, although they looked a bit different back then. The hedgehogs we know today haven’t changed much in thousands of years, which shows how well they’re adapted to their way of life. Their strong sense of smell, clever defenses, and nighttime habits have helped them survive in forests, deserts, and even backyards.
Even though hedgehogs might seem quiet or shy, they are full of interesting behaviors and surprises. They can climb, swim, and even run faster than you might think. They have sharp little teeth for crunching bugs and long tongues for licking up food. And while they might look a bit grumpy with their small eyes and frowny faces, they’re curious animals that explore the world with care.
There’s something special about the way hedgehogs live. They don’t make a lot of noise. They don’t need to show off. But they’re smart in their own way and have learned how to survive by being careful and prepared. They may not be the biggest or the fastest animals, but they have their own kind of toughness. When things get rough, they roll up, stay safe, and wait for the danger to pass. That’s a pretty smart strategy, even for something that fits in the palm of your hand.
Hedgehogs are small animals with a big personality—and a lot of spines. If you’ve ever seen one, the first thing you probably noticed is that they look a little bit like a walking hairbrush. But those spines aren’t just for looks. They’re a big part of what makes a hedgehog a hedgehog.
There are seventeen different species of hedgehogs in the world, and they all share some important traits. For starters, they’re mammals. That means they have fur (even if it’s mixed with spines), they’re warm-blooded, and they feed their babies milk. Hedgehogs are part of a special group of animals called insectivores. That means insects are a big part of their diet, although they’ll eat other things too—like worms, slugs, and even small snakes if they’re feeling brave.
Hedgehogs are known for being quiet and shy. During the day, they like to sleep, usually tucked into a burrow or under a pile of leaves. At night, they come out and search for food. This kind of animal is called nocturnal, which means it’s active during the night instead of the day. Their sharp sense of smell and hearing helps them find tasty snacks in the dark.
One thing people often wonder is how hedgehogs got their name. It actually comes from two parts. The “hedge” part comes from the fact that they often live near hedgerows, which are rows of bushes or small trees that grow at the edge of fields. The “hog” part comes from the snorting sounds they make when they’re searching for food. Put those together, and you get “hedgehog”—an animal that snorts near hedges. It might sound silly, but it’s a pretty good description.
If you look closely at a hedgehog, you’ll see that it has a pointed snout, tiny black eyes, and small ears that stick out just a little. Its body is short and round, and it moves with a bit of a shuffle. But the most famous part of a hedgehog is its spines. These aren’t like porcupine quills. They don’t shoot out, and they’re not barbed. Instead, they’re stiff hairs made of keratin—the same stuff that human fingernails are made of. A single hedgehog can have between 5,000 and 7,000 spines on its back. That’s a lot of protection.
When a hedgehog feels threatened or scared, it uses a special muscle to curl up into a tight ball. Its spines stick out in every direction, turning it into a prickly fortress that’s hard for predators to bite. This defense move is one of the reasons hedgehogs have survived in the wild for so long. Not many animals want to mess with a ball of spikes.
Even though hedgehogs are often quiet, they can make quite a few noises. They grunt, sniff, snuffle, and even chirp or squeak. These sounds help them communicate with each other or show how they’re feeling. If a hedgehog is angry or scared, it might hiss or puff to warn others to stay away.
You might think all hedgehogs look the same, but there are actually differences depending on where they come from. European hedgehogs are bigger and have a mix of brown and cream-colored spines. African pygmy hedgehogs, which are sometimes kept as pets, are smaller and often have lighter coloring. There are even desert hedgehogs that can survive in hot, dry places with very little water.
Speaking of pets, not all hedgehogs can be kept at home. In some places, it’s against the law to own one because they’re considered wild animals or could hurt local ecosystems if they escape. And while pet hedgehogs can be friendly and fun to watch, they also need special care. They need a warm, safe place to live, the right food, and lots of time to sleep. Just because they’re small doesn’t mean they’re easy to take care of.
In the wild, hedgehogs are an important part of nature. Because they eat bugs and pests, they help keep gardens and farms healthy. Gardeners in some parts of the world even leave little holes in their fences so hedgehogs can wander through. A hedgehog on patrol can be a helpful visitor for anyone trying to grow vegetables or flowers.
Some hedgehogs hibernate during the winter, especially in colder places. Hibernation is when an animal slows its body way down to save energy. During this time, the hedgehog doesn’t eat or move much. It curls up in a nest of leaves or grass and stays that way for weeks or even months. When the weather gets warmer, it wakes up and goes back to its usual routine.
Even though hedgehogs have a lot going for them, they do face some challenges. In many places, their numbers are going down because of things like cars, pesticides, and loss of habitat. That’s why it’s important to learn about them and understand how we can help. Even simple things—like leaving parts of a garden wild or avoiding harmful chemicals—can make a big difference for these little creatures.
Hedgehogs have been around for millions of years. Fossils show that ancient hedgehogs lived during the time of the dinosaurs, although they looked a bit different back then. The hedgehogs we know today haven’t changed much in thousands of years, which shows how well they’re adapted to their way of life. Their strong sense of smell, clever defenses, and nighttime habits have helped them survive in forests, deserts, and even backyards.
Even though hedgehogs might seem quiet or shy, they are full of interesting behaviors and surprises. They can climb, swim, and even run faster than you might think. They have sharp little teeth for crunching bugs and long tongues for licking up food. And while they might look a bit grumpy with their small eyes and frowny faces, they’re curious animals that explore the world with care.
There’s something special about the way hedgehogs live. They don’t make a lot of noise. They don’t need to show off. But they’re smart in their own way and have learned how to survive by being careful and prepared. They may not be the biggest or the fastest animals, but they have their own kind of toughness. When things get rough, they roll up, stay safe, and wait for the danger to pass. That’s a pretty smart strategy, even for something that fits in the palm of your hand.