Most of us view hedgehogs as cuties who mind their own business and bring us joy when we see them running around in our garden. But they are fascinating animals for reasons beyond that. The facts below will show you why.
Hedgehogs Are Lactose Intolerant
You might have been tempted at one point to feed your garden hedgehog with some milk. However, that is a big mistake. They are lactose intolerant, and milk does quite a work on their digestive system. If you want to give them a treat, leave a bowl of water for them.
Hedgehogs Can Have Up to 7,000 Spikes
One key feature of hedgehogs is the spikes that cover almost their entire body. A hedgehog can have up to 7,000 individual spikes. They shed them on an annual basis, and each spike gets replaced with a new one.
Hedgehogs Love to Sleep
Hedgehogs are snooze-loving creatures. They are known to sleep through the day, being mostly active during the night. Also, they spend the entire winter hibernating and return to the outside world in March.
Hedgehogs are Solitary Animals
Hedgehogs spend most of their life alone. The hedgehog babies spend several weeks with their mothers before being left on their own. The only time they look for the company of other hedgehogs is during mating season.
Hedgehogs Have Immunity from Snake Bites
During their evolution, hedgehogs have developed an immunity to snake bites. They will survive encounters with most venomous snakes thanks to the protein in their blood that neutralizes snake venom.
