FAUNA

HEDGEHOG

1. What is hedgehog ?

Hedgehogs are small mammals with cone-shaped faces, short legs

and bodies that are covered with quills,hedgehog quills are not easily
detached from their bodies.Hedgehog quills are made from keratin,much
like human nails.A hedgehog can have about 6000 quills on its body.

Most hedgehogs can fit in an adult`s hand, they range in size from
4 to 12 inches (10 to 30 centimeters).When in danger, the hedgehog rolls
into a ball so that the quills cover the entire area of their exposed body and
protects the animal from predators.Once they are in a ball, they must stay
still, it is a myth that they can roll while curled into a ball.

2. Where is the natural habitat of hedgehog ?

Hedgehogs can be found in Europe, Asia, Africa and New

Zealand.The hedgehog habitat is mainly hedgerows, woodlands, and
meadows, but they are also commonly found in sub-urban gardens.Within
their habitat, they normally have a few sleeping nests.As they are
nocturnal creatures,it is not after dusk that they leave the nests to forage
for food.The hedgehog rustles through leaf looking for insects such as
beetles and caterpillars,invertebrates including earthworms and slugs, and
small fruit like berries.

Hedgehog homes are usually burrows and nests they build

themselves. Hedgehog burrows can be up to 20 inches (50 cm) deep,nests
are made from leaves, branches and other vegetation. Sometimes,
hedgehogs take over burrows that other animals have left behind.

3. What is special about a hedgehog ?

Hedgehogs are solitary creatures that are big sleepers and can sleep
up to 18 hours per day. They are also nocturnal, which means they sleep
during the day. This can make them poor pet choices for someone that
wants and active pet during daytime hours. 
At night, hedgehogs search for food. Hedgehogs have poor
eyesight and rely on hearing and smell to help them find food. Hedgehogs
have up to 44 teeth.
 They use sleep to protect themselves from extreme climates in
addition to just getting rest. Hedgehogs hibernate in cold climates, and
they sleep through times of heat and drought in deserts. This process of
sleeping during heat and drought is called aestivation. In areas where there
aren't extreme climates, hedgehogs are active and have normal sleep
cycles.

4. How does hedgehog breed ?

Hedgehogs breed between March and October.Hedgehogs only give birth

once per year after a gestation of four to six weeks. Their litters usually
consist of four to seven young at one time

Typically, the mother protects her ‘pups’ from predators as even the father
may try to eat the young. Sometimes, if the nest is disturbed, the mother
may even become the predator and will eat her young.

Within about two weeks, the ‘pups’ eyes start to open and spines begin to
appear on their backs.After four to seven weeks, ‘pups’ are on their own.
At nine to 11 months they are fully mature and will live three to eight
years in the wild or up to 10 years in captivity. 

5. Can we pet a hedgehog ?

Hedgehogs have gained popularity as pets in recent

decades.Hedgehogs are actually quite athletic creatures! In the wild they
often run several miles a night and are adept climbers and swimmers. To
meet their exercise needs, pet hedgehogs need an enclosure large enough
to accommodate an exercise wheel and space for natural foraging
behavior. Large Tupperware storage containers can be a great option for
an enclosure.Hedgehogs come from a tropical part of the world and do
best in a temperature of 75-85 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hedgehogs are very solitary animals and should be housed

separately. In the wild, they are only social during the breeding season.
Their solitary nature can make it difficult for these pets to warm up to you.
The best opportunity to be able to train a hedgehog to accept handling is
by obtaining the animal from a breeder at a young age. Just like any other
pet, hedgehogs should see a veterinarian every year to identify any
potential health issues early.
Sources :

https://www.awf.org/wildlife-conservation/hedgehog
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/h/hedgehog/
https://vetmed.illinois.edu/pet_column/hedgehog-pets/