Hedgehogs have been roaming the earth for millions of years, but didn’t get their current name until the mid 1400s. They are commonly found in Europe, New Zealand, Africa, India, Pakistan, China, and other parts of Asia, and the Middle East.

 

The animals belong to the family Erinaceidae and there are 14 different species around the world. They are small (averaging 10 inches), nocturnal mammals that are recognizable by their pig-like snouts and coats of spines which consist of between 5,000 and 70,000 quills. When threatened, the creatures roll themselves into a ball for self defence. They are sometimes quite vocal, and can communicate by grunts and sometimes loud squeals.

 

The spines are actually hollow hairs that are made stiff with keratin. They are not harmful, don’t contain poison and are not barbed. Baby hedgehogs shed their spines and replace them with adult ones in a process calledquilling. They can also possibly lose spines when sick or under extreme stress.

 

The different species basically have different predators. For example, forest hedgehogs need to be aware of birds (especially owls) and ferrets. Long-eared hedgehogs are usually preyed on by foxes, badgers, wolves and mongooses. They can also be targeted by snakes, but are equipped with some natural immunity against snake venom, which is the proteinerinacin in the animal's muscular system. Hedgehogs can also die by eating insecticide-filled insects and must always be on the lookout for cars on the road. They are still eaten by humans in some parts of the world.

 

All species are primarily nocturnal, but some wander out in daytime. They like to sleep under bushes, grass, rock, and in holes in the ground. While different species’ habits alter slightly, they typically dig dens for shelter. Wild hedgehogs often hibernate, but it all comes down to the species, the region’s temperature, and amount of food available. While forest hedgehogs like insects best, other species dine on a variety of foods including frogs, snakes, bird eggs, roots, mushrooms and fruit. Wild hedgehogs are usually a great form of garden pest control,  happily chomping up all of the slugs and snails.

 

The animals generally live alone, but do get together for often difficult mating sessions. Females give birth to between three and six babies on average, but adult males sometimes kill newborn males. Larger species generally live from four to seven years in the wild and smaller ones live two to four. The animals are actually born blind and without quills, as they take time to develop from beneath the skin. The eyes open in about two weeks. Their lifespan can also be influenced by diseases such as cancer, fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. They are fully mature at about 11 months and weigh on average nine to 19 ounces.

 

The poor little animals have suffered throughout the centuries by many myths. Thousands were hunted down and killed as they were thought to be chicken egg thieves and were also accused of stealing cow’s milk during the night. In eastern Africa, the skin and spines of white bellied hedgehogs is thought to be a fertility charm. In some countries,it is believed that if the skin of a hedgehog is placed on seeds before planting, it will result in good harvests. Hedgehogs are still eaten in some areas as it is believed they can cure diseases such as leprosy, colic, and poor vision. European gypsies also eat hedgehogs to cure them from poisoning and to ward off evil spells despite it being illegal to catch, kill, or confine them in most of Europe.