WHAT IS THE HEDGEHOG?
The Hedgehog is a mammal and it can
grow to the size of six to nine inches long. The
average lifespan of hedgehog is ten years and it
reaches sexual maturity between the ages of 1 and
2. It's gestation period usually lasts anywhere
between 34 and 37 days. The hedgehog lives in open
country throughout Central Africa where it feeds
on a diet of mostly insects, crustaceans, eggs and
carrion.
There are 11 species of hedgehog native to Africa,
Asia, and Europe, and they have been introduced
to New Zealand. Hedgehogs have a litter of one to
seven babies which are born with the spines just
below the skin. Spines start to appear within 24
hours of birth. The only natural predators for hedgehogs
are large owls and hawks with well protected claws
and feet. To protect it against these types of enemies
it has a very large muscle in it's stomach to help
it roll into a ball when attacked. It's spines are
it's natural defense much a like a porcupine.
