| Are you thinking about getting a hedgehog? Have you | | | | Hedgehogs originated in Great Britain, Europe, Asia, and |
| wondered what kind of habitat he or she may have | | | | Africa (none are native to North or South America) |
| wandered through in the wild? If so, you have come to | | | | and were also introduced to other areas such as New |
| the right place! Read on! The actual name "hedgehog" | | | | Zealand and the islands of Scotland for pest control. |
| dates to 1450 and comes from Middle English. | | | | Hedgies can still be found in the wild today in habitats |
| Hedgehogs were found so frequently underneath | | | | ranging from wooded areas, mountains, semi-urban |
| hedges (essentially thick bushes) that they were | | | | areas like parks, to deserts. As hedgies like to be |
| named for them! "Hog" in hedgehog also reflects the | | | | sleeping during the day, you would be most likely to |
| somewhat pig-like nose (although to us it may look | | | | see one out and about around dusk. During the |
| pointy) of the hedgehog. | | | | daytime a hedgehog likes to spend his time asleep in a |
| Hedgehogs are small spine covered mammals that | | | | comfy burrow - either a hole dug in the ground or a |
| many in North America confuse with a larger quill | | | | soft nest of leaves under a bush. |
| covered rodent - the porcupine. Hedgehogs and | | | | In the wild, hedgehogs would dine on a delicious diet of |
| porcupines are actually not related at all and developed | | | | invertebrates such as bugs and worms, small animals |
| their spiney exteriors independently of each other. | | | | like lizards and rodents, bird eggs, fruits and vegetables. |
| Hedgehogs are in fact much smaller than porcupines - | | | | When food becomes scarce, a hedgehog naturally |
| they range from one to four pounds in weight, and | | | | turns to hibernation. Today domesticated hedgehogs |
| their quills are not barbed, poisoned, or even really | | | | will still try to hibernate when they become chilly but |
| removable. Instead the quills act merely as a defensive | | | | this is actually dangerous as they have trouble waking |
| mechanism to deter predators when the hedgehog | | | | up their metabolisms continue to burn - causing a slow |
| rolls into a ball. | | | | wasting. |