Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are small, spiny mammals. They are mostly nocturnal, sleeping in shallow holes or under rocks during the day. They eat insects, frogs, snails and some greenery. When threatened, they roll into a tight ball!
Fun Facts about Hedgehogs
- Hedgehogs have also been known as urchins, hedgepigs and furzepigs
- They are the only native British animal that has spines, or quills
- Each spine lasts for about a year before it falls out and is replaced by another one. A hedghog can have between 5,000 and 6,000 spines.
- It is thought that there were about 30 million hedgehogs in the UK in the 1950s, but recent surveys suggest that are are only about 1 million left now
- Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets
- Hedgehogs have very poor eyesight so they rely on their senses of hearing and smell
- A group of hedgehogs is called an array.
- Hedgehogs are one of only three British mammals (the others being bats and dormice) that hibernate.
Our Hedgehog Resources for Kids
Hedgehogs In Stories
Beatrix Potter's Mrs Tiggy-winkle is probably the most famous hedgehog in the world! Here is an extract to enjoy:
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Lucie opened the door: and what do you think there was inside the hill? - a nice clean kitchen with a lagged floor and wooden beams - just like any other farm kitchen. Only the ceiling was so low that Lucie's head nearly touched it; and the pots and pans were small, and so was everything there.
THERE was a nice hot singey smell; and at the table, with an iron in her hand stood a very stout short person staring anxiously at Lucie.
Her print gown was tucked up, and she was wearing a large apron over her striped petticoat. Her little black nose went sniffle, sniffle, snuffle, and her eyes went twinkle, twinkle; and underneath her cap--where Lucie had yellow curls--that little person had PRICKLES!
"Who are you?" said Lucie. "Have you seen my pocket-handkins?"
The little person made a bob-curtsey - "Oh, yes, if you please'm; my name is Mrs. Tiggy-winkle; oh, yes if you please'm, I'm an excellent clear-starcher!"
And she took something out of a clothes- basket, and spread it on the ironing-blanket.
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