Metro US: Prickles and a paunch: Israel’s overweight hedgehogs go on diet
RAMAT GAN, Israel (Reuters) – Ten overweight hedgehogs have had to go on strict diets and exercise regimes after they ate so much on the streets of Israel they struggled to curl up into a ball to fend ...
Yahoo News Australia: Prickles and a paunch: Israel's overweight hedgehogs go on diet
Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. RAMAT GAN, Israel (Reuters) - Ten overweight hedgehogs have had to go on strict diets and exercise regimes after they ate so much ...
There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction. There are no hedgehogs native to Australia and no living species native to the Americas. However, the extinct genus Amphechinus was once present in North America.
Hedgehogs are small, stout mammals characterized by sharp, keratinized spines or quills on their bodies. They are named so because they creep through hedges, grunting like pigs in search of insects, worms, beetles, termites, and other potential prey.
By curling into a tight ball and tucking in their heads, tail, and legs, they protect the parts of their bodies that do not have stiff, sharp spines. Often compared to pincushions, hedgehogs...
There are 17 species of hedgehog and they are found in Europe, Africa and Asia. In the UK they can live in a variety of habitats including woodland, farmland, parks and gardens. Hedgehogs are also well established in our urban habitat and can, somewhat surprisingly, survive very well in our cities.