Factfile: hedgehogs
Published Date:
06 December 2007
If the weather is mild, hedgehogs do not need to come into care but if they are too small to hibernate, they can be fed minced meat, scrambled eggs and fresh water in the garden.
- Hedgehogs like heaps of leaves and brushwood to hibernate in or a purpose built box.
- Always be careful with your strimmer as hedgehogs may be sheltering in the long grass.
- If you find a sick or injured hedgehog call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 or take it to a wildlife centre. They should be put into a large box with fresh hay, newspapers and dry leaves.
- Hedgehogs are easily distinguished by their spines.
- When hedgehogs feel threatened, they roll into a tight ball with their spines pointing outwards to prevent predators from harming them.
- Hedgehogs have five toes on their front paws with short nails and on their back paws they have four toes with long, constantly growing nails.
- Hedgehogs can live between four and seven years and are fairly vocal, and communicate not only in a series of grunts and snuffles, but sometimes in loud squeals.
- They are a powerful form of pest control and can keep an average garden free of pests by eating up to 200 grams of insects each night.
The full article contains 212 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
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Last Updated:
06 December 2007 12:19 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Peterborough
