Hedgehogs ► Although traditionally classified in the now abandoned order Insectivore, hedgehogs are not exclusively insectivores but are almost omnivorous. Hedgehogs feed on insects, snails, frogs and toads, snakes, bird eggs, carrion, mushrooms, grass roots, berries, melons and watermelons. Berries constitute a major part of an Afghan hedgehog's diet in early spring after hibernation.

Hedgehog

White hedgehog's SSSSpines are white, banded by pale orange-beige. The under body is white. The face is not masked. The eyes are ruby-red. The nose is pink.

White hedgehog

Facts about hedgehogs  A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae, which is in order Erinaceomorpha. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa and New Zealand (by introduction). There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas. Hedgehogs share distant ancestry with shrews (order Soricidae), with gymnures possibly being the intermediate link, and have changed little over the last 15 million years.2 Like many of the first mammals they have adapted to a nocturnal,3 insectivorous way of life. Hedgehogs' spiny protection resembles that of the unrelated rodent porcupines and monotreme echidnas.mammals subfamilyorder ErinaceomorphaspeciesgeneraNew Zealandshrewsgymnures2nocturnal3porcupinesechidnas  The name hedgehog came into use around the year 1450, derived from the Middle English heyghoge, from heyg, hegge ("hedge"), because it frequents hedgerows, and hoge, hogge ("hog"), from its piglike snout.4 Other names include urchin, hedgepig and furze-pig.Middle Englishhedgerows4

What hedgehogs eat Although traditionally classified in the now abandoned order Insectivorous, hedgehogs are not exclusively insectivores but are almost omnivorous. Hedgehogs feed on insects, snails, frogs and toads, snakes, bird eggs, carrion, mushrooms, grass roots, berries, melons and watermelons. Berries constitute a major part of an Afghan hedgehog's diet in early spring after hibernation. insectivoresinsectssnails frogstoadssnakesbird eggscarrion mushroomsgrassrootsberriesmelons watermelons Afghan hedgehoginsectivoresinsectssnails frogstoadssnakesbird eggscarrion mushroomsgrassrootsberriesmelons watermelons Afghan hedgehog

Baby

Hedgehog Breeding & Rearing Young The hedgehog's breeding season lasts from about April until September. The main period of activity is in May and June, when the nights are warm. The gestation period for hedgehogs is about four and a half weeks. Most baby hedgehogs are born in July and June. Females that lose their litter for some reason are capable of having a second litter, but they are unlikely to come after October. The average family size is about 4 or 5, possibly 6 or 7. So, theoretically, given that a female can have 2 litters a year, a female hedgehog could raise 10 babies in a year. This is unlikely, as most of these baby hedgehogs would die. A more realistic figure is that a female could raise 2, possibly 3 babies a year. The hedgehog's breeding season lasts from about April until September. The main period of activity is in May and June, when the nights are warm. The gestation period for hedgehogs is about four and a half weeks. Most baby hedgehogs are born in July and June. Females that lose their litter for some reason are capable of having a second litter, but they are unlikely to come after October. The average family size is about 4 or 5, possibly 6 or 7. So, theoretically, given that a female can have 2 litters a year, a female hedgehog could raise 10 babies in a year. This is unlikely, as most of these baby hedgehogs would die. A more realistic figure is that a female could raise 2, possibly 3 babies a year.

Baby white hedgehogs

The mummy & daddy stay together with the baby until it has grown up.

Facts about the mum & dad having a baby A new baby can put a huge strain on any relationship. Having a new baby in the house is not a learning curve, it's a learning cliff. There's the stress of doing lots of things for the first time, the lack of sleep, her hormone levels changing and her recovery from the physical exertions of labour to deal with. Just remember that this bit isn't going to last forever and hey, you've got a baby!

The Hedgehogs Body on The Outside You cannot mistake hedgehogs for anything else. They are Britain's only spiny mammal. The spines are without doubt the hedgehog's most intriguing feature. A 1lb 5oz (600g) hedgehog has 5, ,000 spines. Many people do not actually know the colour of the hedgehog's spines. They are brown at the base, and fade to white at the top. If you look closely at a hedgehog you will notice that they have a white tint to them. You cannot mistake hedgehogs for anything else. They are Britain's only spiny mammal. The spines are without doubt the hedgehog's most intriguing feature. A 1lb 5oz (600g) hedgehog has 5, ,000 spines. Many people do not actually know the colour of the hedgehog's spines. They are brown at the base, and fade to white at the top. If you look closely at a hedgehog you will notice that they have a white tint to them.

Baby Hedgehogs body

Hedgehogs fruit Hedgehogs love to eat fruit. Hedgehogs love to eat fruit.

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