Hedgehogs: Facts, Characteristics, Behavior, Diet

The hedgehog is a mammal in the family Erinaceidae from the order Eulipotyphla. It is well known for the spikes on its back, though it isn’t the only animal with this feature.

These spines are defensive tactics against predators, as this animal’s size makes it an easy target for bigger predators.

Hedgehogs are wild animals, but they can be domesticated by someone who gives them the care they need. You should also know that they are not rodents.

One can see why such a mistake would be made, but these guys belong to a different order and are not related to rats and rabbits.

Scientific Classification

Characteristics 

5 Interesting Facts About Hedgehogs

1. There’s a reason for their name 

These animals were named hedgehogs for two reasons, their association with hedges being the first.

They construct their nests in dense vegetation, hedges being one of them. They also forage through these hedges to look for prey. These behaviors earned them the “hedge” in their name. 

“Hog” comes from the snorting sound these animals make, similar to that of a pig. Combined, we get their name. 

2. They were once considered pests 

Surprisingly, it isn’t because of their spikes. They were considered pests for a funnier reason, but which must have been serious during their times.

These spike balls were believed to be stealing milk from cows and even making them fall ill. They were associated with a cattle disease named blackleg.

Another cow superstition that concerns this animal is the idea that if a cow steps on where a female hedgehog that was in heat once stayed, the cow will fall ill.

These superstitions were possibly created to protect the cows, but there’s no strong evidence for these superstitions, as well as many others.

3. They are not rodents 

Due to similarities in their looks, some people mistakenly think hedgehogs are rodents. However, this is far from the truth.

They tend to be confused for porcupines because both animals have spikes, but there’s no relationship between both animals. 

Rather than being rodents, hedgehogs are from the Eulipotyphla order. They are more related to shrews than porcupines. 

4. Owning a hedgehog has some legal boundaries 

In some regions, it is illegal to own a hedgehog. This especially applies in North American regions like Pennsylvania, California, and Hawaii.

To breed them in these places, you’ll need a license. These animals might cause some diseases, which is a possible reason for the ban. 

European countries generally don’t have any ban on keeping these animals as pets.

However, the species known as the European Hedgehog is protected by many European countries due to the risk of extinction. Thus, you can’t capture this species or keep it as a pet in these countries. 

5. But they are useful pets 

In places where you can own one of these mammals, you can gain more from it than just getting a buddy.

They are useful for getting rid of pests, especially in gardens. This makes them very useful in keeping your house pest free.

They score high as buddies, too. These animals bond with their owners and have been known to feel less anxious when the owner is around.

You do need a lot of socialization to reduce their general wariness towards humans, but once you do they can be lovable. 

General Description 

The hedgehog’s family, called the Erinaceidae, contains just it and another animal called the moonrat.

The scientific name of our spiky subject is Erinaceus, a Latin word that means “to be bristly”.

This is the most obvious trait of small mammals. They also have faces shaped like cones, which you may not see when they are curled. 

The spiky skin is made up of spines or quills. The latter is attached to the skin, and it’ll be hard for anyone to pull it off a hedgehog without injuring it in the process.

This spine can dig deep into the skin of humans and other mammals. It isn’t poisonous, but the spine can contain bacteria and other germs that cause more danger than the spine itself.

What the bacteria can cause include:

• Fever
• Rashes
• Pain

Distribution and Habitat 

The best places you can find these animals include Europe, Asia, and Africa. There are native species on these continents.

You’ll find none in Australia, and there are no native ones in the Americas too, including the United States. Only imported domesticated individuals were brought into the United States.

These animals are common in Britain, both as wild creatures and as domestic pets. The latter lives with their owners, and the former create their nests.

Nest builders often look for a suitable place, and their preference seems to be pine forests that are both wet and dense. They also inhabit mountainsides, moorlands, and woodland edges. 

There are places where the hedgehog is considered invasive. Examples are New Zealand and Scotland.

In these places, our spiky friends are considered pests. They affect the population of insects, birds, snails, and some other smaller animals.

Diet

Hedgehogs are omnivores, and if you decide to keep one as a pet, you’re responsible for the feeding. Your pet will require high-quality products to keep them healthy.

This distinguishes them from their wild counterparts that look for food on their own. They do their foraging mainly at night, which is when they eat. 

Animals they feed on include insects, baby birds, bird eggs, rodents, frogs, snails, and carrion.

It also feeds on snakes, though it’s hard to imagine a hedgehog eating a python. It most likely goes after smaller species. 

Plant products include fruits, melons, and watermelons. As a pet parent, do not feed your little friend with milk or any lactose product as they are naturally lactose intolerant.

Reproduction and Mating Process

These guys have no social life, and the only moment they get together is to mate. The gestation period is between 35 and 58 days, but there’s no particular breeding period.

These folks can mate throughout the year. Reproduction has a general timeframe, however. It occurs between April and September, and also between May and June in Britain. 

Males initiate the whole process by putting efforts into wooing the woman. They’d snort, puff, circle around, and do anything possible to attract the attention of the female.

The courtship can turn into a fight as other males could interrupt a particular dude’s process. It’s a hard world for a male that wants to reproduce.

Mating itself isn’t any easier. The female has to remain in a delicate position with her spine flat. Males mount from behind. There’s no form of monogamy amongst these mammals, and they change mates with ease.

The female gives birth live, and often to a good number of babies. These babies are called hoglets, and there could be about 11 in a litter.

Hoglets remain with their mothers for as long as 7 weeks. Females have a motherly instinct and can be very protective of their hoglets.

This is why you should steer clear of a hedgehog’s nest, especially one with hoglets in it. Your scent could disrupt that of the hoglets, confusing the mother.

These animals have poor eyesight and depend more on their noses, so the female could eat her young ones if she doesn’t recognize the scent.

Predators and Threats

The little mammal has some threats, especially when it is a wild type. The spines aren’t enough to deter predators, and it can find itself becoming the target of a hungry creature.

It does serve a purpose in the ecosystem even as prey, but that’s not good news for them. 

Their common predators include foxes, wolves, owls, wild dogs, badgers, mongooses, and mustelids. They protect themselves with spikes, but their enemies tend to find a way around it. 

Humans are also considered a threat to these creatures, especially with the loss of habitat. Car-related accidents also claim many hedgehogs per year.

The domestication of some species is a plus as those won’t be in danger. Not everyone sees it this way, however, as the putting up of hedgehogs for sale can be considered a threat as well. 

Behavior

Hedgehogs have poor eyesight, and if there were medicated glasses for these animals, they will need a prescription.

They survive well by relying on other senses, especially the sense of smell. It is their sure method of navigating the world, and they find food with it.

These animals move solo. They do not form groups except when they need to mate, and after that, they disperse.

This puts them at greater risk of predators but also avoids conflict akin to what happens during courtship.

People hardly think of hedgehogs as good examples of industriousness, but these animals build their nests. This puts them at the same rank as many birds, bracers, beavers, and ants among others.

They stay in this nest a lot during spring and summer, and females take care of their young ones in the nest. As nocturnals, they stay in the nest to rest in the morning, then go out to hunt at night.

Male vs Female 

The male is known as a boar and the female is the sow. The differences between the genders are minimal, even on account of size. Both the boar and the sow tend to be the same length and weight.

Their behaviors are also similar, though the female can cohabitate with another hedgehog of either gender better than the male. The latter may get into more conflict.

Generally, no sex is better than the other for a potential pet parent. It will largely depend on your intentions. If you want more than one hedgehog, you should go for two sows or one boar and a sow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

They may be mistaken for little porcupines, but these little spiky animals are on their own.

They have their lifestyle, mating procedures, dietary plans, and even a set of predators that are not intimidated by the spikes on their skins.