Hedgehogs - facts and pictures

Hedgehog meetings are very noisy with plenty sniffing and snorting.

They even head but each other on occasion.

Have you wondered how they defend themselves against predators or how they breed?

How do hedgehogs defend themselves against predators?

            Image credit: Jorg Hempel

These African animals are very noisy and do not seem to rely on concealment to hide themselves from predators.

They rely instead on their spines to protect them from predators.

             Wikimedia Commons

When it is disturbed it rolls itself into a little ball.

They are equipped with muscles along the sides of the body and across the rump that can contract.

This allows them to pulls the spiny skin on its back down over its heads and legs.

The result of this action is that they present a ball of interlocked spines to their attacker.

This defense seems to very effective against lions.

They also sleep in this position, so it is unlikely that they will get caught unprotected.

When they are attacked they also make a puffing hiss in order to imitate a snake.

Which animals prey on them?

In Southern Africa their main predators are Giant eagle owls that eat them in large numbers.

These owls are not deterred by the spines, which seem to provide good protection against other mammal carnivores.

They peel off the back skin and spines before eating them.

How do they breed?

Their courtship is rather noisy.

The male and female circle each other while sniffing and snorting each other.

While mating the female flattens the spines on her rump.

The male holds himself in position by biting the spines on her shoulders.

What do hedgehogs eat?

Its favorite foods are:

• insects,
  
• earthworms,
  
• snails and
  
• slugs.

It is also known to eat:

• birds eggs and chicks,
  
• frogs,
  
• lizards and
•  mice
  

as well as fungi and roots.

What habitat do they prefer?

They are usually nocturnal but commonly active at dusk and dawn.

You will occasionally see them during the day when the weather is cool.

You will notice they move very slowly while foraging.

During the cold, dry, winter months when their insect food is scarce, they hibernate so they are rarely seen in winter.

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