Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata

Class: Mammalia Order: Eulipotyphyla

Family: Erinaceidae Name: Erinaceinae

Common Name: Hedgehog

What Hedgehogs Eat:

In The Wild: In the wild, hedgehogs are known to eat a diet of plants, worms, beetles, caterpillars and slugs. Hedgehogs are omnivores, meaning that they eat both plants and other animals.

As Pets: Hedgehogs that have been raised as pets eat canned dog, cat, or hedgehog food that is high in protein. They can eat either kibbles or wet food, and most people add a healthy amount of fruit and veggies to their hedgehogs diet. (Beans, carrots, pears, peas, corn or apples.)

Hedgehog Reproduction & Lifecycle

Hedgehogs are viviparous, meaning their eggs are internally fertilized with the male mounting the female, and the females giving birth to live young. The gestation period for hedgehogs is around four and a half weeks, and the mother gives birth to anywhere from 1-11 babies!

In the wild, the mother provides parental care for her babies as they nurse from her and she teaches them to grow and survive. after about 2 months, hedgehogs are weaned and can venture out into the world. hedgehogs that are bred to have as pets are taken care of by caretakers for about 6 months, and then given away to be adopted

How Do Hedgehogs Get Around?

Hedgehogs are motile, meaning that they can physically move themselves around with a developed muscular and nervous system.

Hedgehogs walk, jump, or waddle from place to place to get food, find a place to rest, or find somewhere to excrete their waste. Some pet hedgehogs also like to run and play by pushing around little catnip balls and toys that have bells or treats inside.

HABITAT & LOCATION

ON EARTH

Hedgehogs are naturally found in the wild in Europe and Africa, in colder or more tropical climates. They prefer areas with grassland, hedges, shrubbery or similar foliage, and build nests on dryer ground. In some areas, such as the UK, hedgehogs may hibernate through the winter. Though the natural location of hedgehogs is elsewhere, people have domesticated them and constantly breed them in captivity, shipping them worldwide to Canada, The United States, The UK, and Australia.