Hedgehog is a permanent inhabitant of the forest, but sometimes these animals are found in park areas. Despite the sharp needles, these animals are very cute and also bring benefits - they destroy harmful insects (unfortunately, eat useful ones with them).
I would like to note that if a hedgehog is wound up at a summer cottage, this is a good sign, but you do not need to drive it away and distract you from your important affairs.
Many, probably, at the sight of this wonderful animal recall the cartoon of the artist and animator Yuri Norshtein "Hedgehog in the Fog" in 1975, where friends - hedgehog and bear act as the characters. From this cartoon, the soul becomes a little warmer, even if it is raining outside the windows, and “cats scratch” in the shower. If you have not watched this cartoon, we recommend that you watch, and also take a little time and read about hedgehogs - these charming little animals.
We bring to your attention 10 interesting facts about hedgehogs - prickly but cute babies.
10. Some of the oldest mammals
Hedgehogs are widespread in Europe. We know about this animal from childhood, having met it from various fairy tales and cartoons. Hedgehogs are the oldest mammals (along with shrews) from the order of insectivores.
For the past 15 million years, these animals have inhabited different cities and countries. The only thing is they avoid those climatic zones in which there is constant cold, as well as wetlands.
Interesting fact: Scientists have found an ancient "hedgehog" that still lived under the dinosaurs (125 million years ago), but it looked different. This creature had large ears, short hair, an elongated muzzle and a furry belly. It dwelled in holes and ate insects.
9. About 17 species of hedgehogs
Perhaps you know only a few species of hedgehogs: long-eared, Daurian, common and long-needle. However, species of hedgehogs, there are about 17 (if not more)!
The South African hedgehog, which is on the verge of extinction, is listed in the Red Book. The most common hedgehogs: white-bellied (this species has one feature - the 5th thumb is missing on its small paws, which is not at all characteristic of its needle-like brethren), Algerian, common (omnivorous animal, small in size), eared. Despite their similarity, hedgehogs differ, including in appearance.
8. About 10,000 needles per animal
It is interesting that in the world there are many types of hedgehogs, and they are all very different, so it is difficult to say how many needles the animal has in general. Our European, for example, has 6000-7000 needles in an adult and from 3000 in a young one.
It is believed that as the hedgehog grows older, the number of needles increases. But this happens only in the process of growing up, then their number stabilizes and the needles are periodically updated. The maximum number of needles in a hedgehog reaches 10,000.
Interesting fact: some hedgehogs do not have needles at all, for example, in the genus Gimnur or rat-like. Instead of needles, their hair grows, and outwardly they look more like rats.
7. Can reach speeds of up to 3 m / s
Few people can imagine a hedgehog running somewhere and accelerating to 3 m / s. And this is understandable - a hedgehog is no reason, and you are unlikely to have ever seen a high-speed animal, but the animal is not at all slow. In races it is better not to compete with him - the hedgehog will not only catch up with you, but can even overtake!
But these are not all the features of the wonderful animal - if necessary, it can perfectly swim and even jump to about 3 cm high (the latter is hard to imagine, agree).
6. Omnivore
Common hedgehog - omnivorous animal, its food consists of caterpillars, adult insects, slugs, mice, earthworms, etc. Under natural conditions, the animal rarely attacks vertebrates, most often amphibians or numb reptiles become victims of hedgehogs.
From plants, the hedgehog prefers fruits and berries (a picture is often found where the animal drags an apple on its back. In fact, on the needles, hedgehogs can carry small pieces of fruit and berries, but they are not able to lift the whole apple).
Hedgehogs held in captivity willingly consume meat products, bread, eggs. Contrary to popular belief, milk is not the best drink for a hedgehog.
5. In winter, hibernates
And you thought only bears do it? Hedgehogs also hibernateHowever, they do not create a den for this. Already in the fall, these beautiful animals are redefining their routine in a new way. They begin to actively seek a place for wintering.
Hedgehogs are happy to use burrows located in the forest, where no one will disturb them: pits, leaves, low-lying branches become an ideal solution for them.
Hedgehogs are easy to find under heaps of old foliage (for example, in a forest area), in large squares or in summer cottages. Usually the hedgehogs hibernate with the whole family, but you can also find loneliness alone - as a rule, these are young “bachelors”.
4. Destroy insect pests and rodents
If you notice a hedgehog at your summer cottage, do not drive it away, because it will be an excellent help for you in the fight against insect pests and rodents.
Some seek to drive away these cute creatures, but in just a few days they are able to destroy pests such as Khrushchev and Bear. It can be very difficult to deal with these insects, as they are activated at night, and during the day they hide under the ground. But the hedgehog is a nocturnal animal, and these pests are not able to elude him.
In addition, hedgehogs willingly eat fruits that have fallen from trees (this is much better than leaving them on the ground or throwing them out).
For reference: during fruiting, the hedgehog can harm berry and vegetable plantings, which is worth considering. They can eat strawberries or leave zucchini bitten.
3. Fried hedgehog - a traditional gypsy dish
It is better to skip this impressive point ... Because many have tender feelings for touching animals - hedgehogs. Gypsies like to eat fried hedgehogs (sometimes boiled). And, I must say, this is the first and only national dish of Polish and Baltic gypsies, associated with a long forced life in the woods during the time of the persecution of gypsies in Europe.
Hedgehogs were often found in medieval books: it was believed that the meat of this animal was very healthy. In particular, grated and dried hedgehogs were recommended for use by lepers as a medicine for difficulty urinating. Advice was given in the book Eberhard-Metzger Culinary Book.
2. Eared hedgehogs extremely rarely fold
We are used to seeing a picture of a hedgehog curling up in a ball, but not everyone likes to do this. For example, the eared hedgehog, even in case of danger, reluctantly turns into a ball. If danger is approaching, he prefers to run away on his little paws (by the way, he does it faster than his brothers), while hissing and bouncing.
Recall that the hedgehog curls up in a ball so that no one can grab it by the tender abdomen (it is not protected by anything and has very delicate skin). When the hedgehog collapses, its needles are placed in all directions. Hence the expression "You're like a hedgehog letting out your needles”, Meaning that a person does not trust anyone and is in a defensive position from the outside world.
1. Contrary to opinion, hedgehogs do not specifically carry products
On calendars and notebook covers, a hedgehog carrying fruit on its needles is a very beautiful picture known to many from childhood, but animals do this very rarely and not of their own free will. They accidentally prick products on themselves, however, they drag the leaves on themselves in a mink for litter, because hedgehogs are dormant wintering animals.
The myth of carrying food by hedgehogs was invented by the ancient Roman writer Pliny the Elder. Naive artists, having read the master, immediately in their works began to depict hedgehogs hung with juicy apples. And so carried away that these images haunt us from childhood.