Hedgehog

=**Hedgehog**=

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 * Animal Name:** European Hedgehog
 * Order:** Erinaceomorpha
 * SubFamily:** Erinaceinae


 * Animal Description:**
 * Body Length: 7 to 8 inches
 * Weight: 1.5 – 2.0 kg
 * Lifespan: 4-7 years in the wild
 * Gestation period: 35 days
 * Young: hoglets
 * Small spiny mammal
 * Egg shaped body
 * Short tails
 * Long legs
 * Small ears
 * Pig-like noses
 * Poor eyesight
 * Sense of smell and hearing are hightened
 * dults can have as many as 5000 - 7000 quills


 * Behavior:**
 * When they feel threatened they curl up in a ball
 * Noctornal
 * Hibernate from Nov. – Mar if the climate is correct (domestic hedgehogs do not hibernate)
 * Squeal when afraid
 * Solitary animals, non-territorial
 * Can travel 2-4 km per night foraging for food
 * Seek shelter during the day


 * Diet:**
 * Eat mostly insects, but will also eat bird eggs, grass roots, berries and melons. They are almost omnivorous.
 * Lactose intolerant – dairy products are harmful
 * Habitat:**
 * British Isles, Western Europe, Mediterranean Islamds, and has been introduced to New Zealand
 * Live in deciduous forests, sand dunes, open woodlands, hollow stumps, and cavities in the rocks


 * Interesting Facts:**
 * No living Species native to North America
 * In exsistance since the dinosaur days (about 10 million years old)
 * Baby hedgehogs (hoglets ) are born blind
 * Prey to owls
 * can swim pretty well
 * can climb trees
 * Illegal to have a hedgehog as a pet in Idaho, Oregon, California, Georgia, Hawaii, Pennsylvania
 * Quills are hard on the outside, filled with soft air pockets on the inside
 * Domestic hedgehogs are typoically hybrids of the White-bellied Hedgehog or Four-toed Hedgehog, and North African Hedgehog

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/193.shtml BBC Science and Nature http://hedgehogcentral.com/introduction.shtml Hedgehog Central http://www.hedgies.com/activities_for_children.htm Hedgies.com http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/CreatureFeature/Hedgehog National Geographic - Hedgehogs http://lsb.syr.edu/projects/cyberzoo/europeanhedgehog.html Cyber Zoo http://www.wildlife-web.org.uk/hedgehog/ Wildlife Web - hedgehog
 * Useful links:**