The hedgehog is an animal that we have known about since early childhood. Fairy tales and cartoons introduced us to him. But do we really know these spiny clubs well enough? Do you know why a hedgehog is dangerous or why hedgehogs are harmful? Is it true that hedgehogs carry apples and mushrooms on their backs? In this article, you will learn interesting facts about hedgehogs and you will be able to find answers to all these questions.
- Did you know that an ordinary hedgehog has 5 thousand spines?! Having such a fur coat requires careful care. Hedgehogs take care of their quills with the help of their paws, but they are too short and do not allow the animal to completely cleanse them of parasites. In such a situation, the hedgehog is helped by the acid released by the fruit. Hedgehogs will ride on rotting apples or other fruits – this is one of the most unusual facts about hedgehogs. Such tricks make you misleading about the hedgehog’s taste preferences. However, the hedgehog does not prick fruits onto needles in order to carry them on its back to its hole. Read More.
Newborn Hedgehog
2. Everyone knows about the ability of hedgehogs to curl up into a prickly ball when in danger. The hedgehog’s needles serve as strong armor and protection. With such equipment, the hedgehog emerges victorious even in a fight with a viper. However, it is not only the needles that allow him to win the fight. One of the little-known facts about hedgehogs is that these animals are insensitive to many poisons. Arsenic, opium, and even hydrocyanic acid have a weak effect on hedgehogs.
3. We are used to thinking of hedgehogs as harmless creatures. But despite this, they are quite capable of standing up for themselves. After all, they have at their disposal not only barbed needles but also 36 sharp teeth.
4. Many people believe that a hedgehog does not have a tail. But this is not so – it has a tail. It’s just very short, its length is only 2 inches. Of course, it is very difficult to see such a small tail under the hedgehog’s spines.
5. Despite their small size, hedgehogs are quite nimble animals. They can run at speeds of up to 3 m/s. In addition, hedgehogs swim well and jump well, have a keen sense of smell, and have very sensitive hearing. The only thing is that hedgehogs have poor eyesight.
6. The hedgehog is not afraid to spoil his figure. Since the hedgehog hibernates in winter, before that it gains another 1 pounds of fat on top of its usual weight of 2 pounds. Such reserves allow him not to die of hunger in winter and to sleep peacefully until spring. Interestingly, the body temperature of hedgehogs during hibernation drops to 2 °C – this is one of the most interesting facts about hedgehogs.
7. The hedgehog is an insectivorous animal. But its diet is not limited to insects. In addition to insects, hedgehogs eat berries and fruits, mice and voles, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians. Hedgehogs also feed on eggs or chicks of small birds that make nests on the ground. A hedgehog can even eat a snake.
8. Hedgehogs are useful in killing various harmful insects. These animals destroy cockchafers, nun caterpillars, and gypsy moths. In addition, hedgehogs destroy mice and voles. The hedgehog is a faithful guardian of the garden. After all, where this thorny ball appears, rats and snakes go away.
9. First of all, the hedgehog causes harm by destroying bird nests. And this problem is relevant for both wildlife and domestic animals. If you have a hedgehog and chickens at your dacha, then hedgehogs pose a threat to them. But the greatest harm from hedgehogs is disease. A hedgehog can carry diseases such as rabies, salmonellosis, dermatomycosis, yellow fever, and others. In addition, there are a lot of ticks and fleas on hedgehogs. This poses a danger to animals at your dacha. In addition, hedgehogs are hosts for ixodid ticks.
10. Very often children find a hedgehog and bring it home, trying to make it a pet. This is a big mistake. After all, hedgehogs are wild animals that are nocturnal and cannot be trained. In addition, they are carriers of serious diseases. In this regard, having hedgehogs as pets is extremely undesirable.
