
About Hedgehogs | How you can help | Our Hedgehog Visitors | Gizmo's Story
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- A hedgehog can travel 1-2 miles a night in search of food
- They are in danger! Their numbers have decreased in the UK from around 30 million in 1950 to around 1 million today
- Hedgehogs are small mammals with cone-shaped faces, short legs and bodies that are covered with porcupine-like quills. Despite their similar appearances, porcupines and hedgehogs are not closely related.
- Unlike porcupines, hedgehog quills are not easily detached from their bodies. Hedgehog quills are made from keratin, much like human nails. Apparently, a hedgehog can have as many 6,000 quills on its body.
- When in danger, the hedgehog rolls into a ball so that the quills cover the entire area of their exposed body and protects the animal from predators. Once they are in a ball, they must stay still. It is a myth that they can roll while curled into a ball.
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