Hedgehogs

[Oceansong-Direwolf]

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are easily recognized by their spines, which are hollow hairs made stiff with keratin. Their spines are not poisonous or barbed and, unlike the quills of a porcupine, cannot easily be removed from the hedgehog. However, spines normally come out when a hedgehog sheds baby spines and replaces them with adult spines. This is called "quilling." When under extreme stress or during sickness, a hedgehog can also lose spines.

A defense that all species of hedgehogs possess is the ability to roll into a tight ball, causing all of the spines to point outwards. However, its effectiveness depends on the number of spines, and since some of the desert hedgehogs evolved to carry less weight, they are much more likely to try to run away and sometimes even attack the intruder, trying to ram into the intruder with its spines, and rolling as a last resort. This results in a different number of predators for different species: while forest hedgehogs have relatively few, primarily birds (especially owls) and ferrets, smaller species like the Long-eared Hedgehog are preyed on by foxes, wolves and mongooses.

Hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal, although, depending on the species, they may be more or less active during the day. The hedgehog sleeps for a large portion of the daytime either under cover of bush, grass, rock or in a hole in the ground. Again, different species can have slightly different habits, but in general hedgehogs dig dens for shelter. All wild hedgehogs can hibernate, although not all do; hibernation depends on temperature, species, and abundance of food.

The hedgehog's back is made up of two large muscles, which control the positioning of its quills. There are about 5,000 to 6,500 quills on the average hedgehog, and these are durable on the outside, while being filled with air pockets on the inside. The hedgehog uses its quills to protect itself from predators, using muscles which draw their quilled skin to cover their full body, and pulling in the parts of their bodies not covered, such as their head, feet, and belly.[4] This form of defense is the hedgehog's most successful, but is usually their last resort.

Hedgehogs have many alternate defense mechanisms. In most situations a hedgehog will flee rather than confront a threat, rolled up in a ball or not. All hedgehogs possess the stamina to run, many can make 4.5 miles per hour or better,[5] and are particularly adept at climbing steep walls, trees, and fences and even swimming.[5]

Hedgehogs are fairly vocal and communicate through a combination of grunts, snuffles and/or squeals, depending on species.

Hedgehogs occasionally perform a ritual called anointing. When the animal encounters a new scent, it will lick and bite the source, then form a scented froth in its mouth and paste it on its spines with its tongue. The specific purpose of this ritual is unknown, but some experts believe anointing camouflages the hedgehog with the new scent of the area and provides a possible poison or source of infection to predators poked by their spines. Anointing is sometimes also called anting because of a similar behavior in birds.

Similar to opossums, mice, and moles, hedgehogs have some natural immunity against snake venom due to the protein erinacin in the animal's muscular system (although it is only available in small percetage and a rattlesnake bite, for example, will kill the hedgehog anyway).[6]

In captivity, hedgehogs tend to get along with dogs, cats and other pets. On the rare occasions when they do feel threatened by these animals, the hedgehog will roll into a ball until the threatening animal disappears. Still, care should be taken to protect hedgehogs from particularly large, aggressive, or mischievous pets.

Source of (more) information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgehog

[AshleyTheRed]

The local manager of Geeks Etc store has a pet hedgehog. He named him Sonic. He stays in the store and is very mischievous. Once he escaped and chewed up a rather important wire. The manager was not pleased.

[Thandi]

The local manager of Geeks Etc store has a pet hedgehog. He named him Sonic. He stays in the store and is very mischievous. Once he escaped and chewed up a rather important wire. The manager was not pleased.

Haha, I'm sure he wasn't! :3

Anyways, hedgehogs are very cute, but can be quite painful if you don't know what you are doing. lol

[Kivia]

-moved to Mammals-

[Jezebel]

The local manager of Geeks Etc store has a pet hedgehog. He named him Sonic. He stays in the store and is very mischievous. Once he escaped and chewed up a rather important wire. The manager was not pleased.

Haha, I'm sure he wasn't! :3

Anyways, hedgehogs are very cute, but can be quite painful if you don't know what you are doing. lol

Actually, I myself had a Hedgehog once. They aren't very painful. They feel somewhat like a brush. You want to avoid petting them backwards though. When you pet a hedgehog you must get used to how it feels when it pokes your skin. After that it feels like a hairbrush and becomes rather fun to hold.

[LeaderOfDreams]

Who doesn't love hedgehogs? There amazing in every way. I love them dearly and I wish they'd cross the road with a little more care

[Tita]

Aww, hedgehogs! <3 They're adorable! I would love to own one. Too bad they're banned where I live.

[SkieRunner]

a friend of mine owed d hedgehog... and a porcupine. Im not sure how the tow go along.... Any way hedge hogs are so cute.