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European hedgehogs may live to more than ten years of age, although the average life expectancy is three years. Starvation is the most common cause of death, usually occurring during hibernation. If alarmed, the animal will roll into a ball to protect itself.
Hedgehogs have a relatively long lifespan for their size. In captivity, lack of predators and controlled diet contribute to a lifespan of eight to ten years depending on size. In the wild, larger species live four to seven years (some recorded up to 16 years), and smaller species live two to four years (four to seven in captivity).
In the 1920s hedgehogs were so numerous that they were blamed for reducing the tally of small game birds and a bounty was put on their noses. By the 1950s hedgehog numbers reached their maximum. To judge by roadkill figures, hedgehogs were 50 times more numerous in New Zealand than anywhere else.
Like all other hedgehogs Erinaceus is nocturnal and seeks shelter in shrubs and burrows during the day. [6] The common defense mechanism is to roll into a ball with the spines facing outward. The action is done because of excess loose skin on the back of hedgehogs allows them to pull it around the rest of their body forming a ball.
As animals native to Europe and Africa, hedgehogs hold a place in European folklore. [1] [2] In most European countries, hedgehogs are believed to be a hard-working no-nonsense animal [citation needed]. This partially results from the folk belief that hedgehogs collect apples and mushrooms and carry them to their secret storage.
Three of the new hedgehog species were upgraded from subspecies of Hylomys suillus and are now named H. dorsalis, H. maxi and H. peguensis. The other two are new, Hylomys vorax and Hylomys ...
The Czech hedgehog is an antitank defense that, for Americans and Russians alike, evokes images of World War II. Moscow has a monument of Czech hedgehogs to mark the farthest that Nazi soldiers ...
In Europe, the size of the northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus) in southern Europe was greater in comparison to white-breasted hedgehog in northern Europe. The size of the northern white-breasted hedgehog varied based on the temperature and precipitation, the size of the white-breasted hedgehog was larger in higher temperatures.