Hedgehog facts for kids

A hedgehog has about 6,000 spines — and none of them stop it liking a gentle friend.

Wildlife · Gardens, hedges and leaf piles

Feelings: A relaxed hedgehog uncurls and snuffles happily; a worried one rolls into a spiky ball until it feels safe again.
Clever thinking: Hedgehogs learn feeding stations, navigate mazes in studies, and memorise nightly routes of a kilometre or more.
Friendships: Hedgehogs live mostly alone, but hoglets stay close to mum and learn routes by following her.
How they talk: They snuffle, snort, chirp and even purr — a happy hedgehog makes a soft whistling sound.
Babies: Hoglets are born with soft white spines under their skin that pop through within hours.
Superpower: A rolling shield — 6,000 spines plus a super-strong back muscle turn a hedgehog into an unopenable ball.

Did you know?

Hedgehogs walk up to two kilometres every single night.
A 'hedgehog highway' — a small hole in a fence — lets hedgehogs travel safely between gardens.
Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant: a saucer of water, never milk, is the kind treat.

Do hedgehogs have feelings?

A relaxed hedgehog uncurls and snuffles happily; a worried one rolls into a spiky ball until it feels safe again.

How smart are hedgehogs?

Hedgehogs learn feeding stations, navigate mazes in studies, and memorise nightly routes of a kilometre or more.

Do hedgehogs have friends?

Hedgehogs live mostly alone, but hoglets stay close to mum and learn routes by following her.

How do hedgehogs talk to each other?

They snuffle, snort, chirp and even purr — a happy hedgehog makes a soft whistling sound.

What is the superpower of hedgehogs?

A rolling shield — 6,000 spines plus a super-strong back muscle turn a hedgehog into an unopenable ball.

Facts are based on published animal-behaviour research. Grown-ups can find sources on the Parents & Teachers page.