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The European hedgehog is a rodent-like mammal. It has an egg-shaped body that measures 7-8 inches long. It has bristling spines which are a pale yellowish color around its face and underparts. This animal also has a small tail that measures less than an inch. Its head is sharp and like a wedge. Hedgehogs have coarse hairs on their face, legs, and underparts. They are warm-blooded and maintain a constant body temperature. Males and females look very similar. The European hedgehog breeds twice a year between May and June, August and September. They normally have 4 or 5 "hogs" in their litter. The gestation time is 34-39 days. The baby hedgehogs are born in a nest of leaves and grass built by their mother. They are blind at birth and in about a week they can see. It takes about a month before the babies are old enough to leave the nest without their mother. |
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At the Utica Zoo, we learned by watching the European hedgehog that if it is not watched closely, it will run away. Another thing we noticed was that you needed to wear gloves to handle it because of its sharp spines. |
The European hedgehog looks for food morning to night. It sniffs out worms, snails, insects, snakes, and small rodents. The European hedgehog is usually found in the British Isles, Western Europe, the Mediterranean Islands, and recently has been introduced to New Zealand. These animals live in deciduous forests, sand dunes, open woodlands, hollow stumps, and cavities in rocks. They hibernate in climates with cold winters. |
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The European hedgehog has poor eyesight but has a very good sense of smell and hearing. When they fear harm, they roll into a tight, spiny ball for protection. The only real predator the European hedgehog has is the fox. The fox will roll the hedgehog into a pond of water where the animal has to uncurl itself or else it will drown. That is when the fox will attack it. The European hedgehog spines are a pale yellowish-white color around its face and underparts. The rest of the body is a brownish color which blends well with its surroundings. |
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Anderson, Sydney, ed. Simon & Schuster's Guide to Mammals. New York: Simon and Schuster, Inc., 1982. Drimmer, Frederick, ed. The Animal Kingdom. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1954. "European Hedgehog." The New Funk & Wagnalls Illustrated Wildlife Encyclopedia, 1980 ed.
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