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When I was younger I had always thought that hedgehogs were related to porcupines, echidnas or tenrecs, because of their spiny appearance. Little did I know just how far from the truth this was. Hedgehogs are actually distant relatives to shrews which means their spiky protection evolved separate to that of the aforementioned mammals. Hedgehogs are nocturnal omnivores, eating a range of things from mushrooms to bird eggs. Because of their nocturnal nature they are rarely seen during the day.
On a dog walk one evening my uncle stumbled across a great sight.
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Hedgehogs live in dens that are usually dug into the ground. They find shelter in bushes, thickets and holes in the ground. It is common for them to seek refuge beneath wood piled high for bonfires leading to their death once they are lit. It has become such a problem that people are asked to check their bonfires before lighting them or assemble them shortly before they are needed rather than a few days in advance.
Hedgehogs are known for their protective strategy of rolling into a tight ball to ward off predators. This makes it an arduous process when trying to pick one up!
I hope to see a live one soon myself.
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