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The Hedgehog

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Basics on the topic The Hedgehog

Newton is on a discovery tour through the forest. What is that? It's a hedgehog! Let's learn together with Newton all about "the hedgehog". The hedgehog is easy to see. They have spiked fur, called quills. Hedgehogs live in different parts of the world, but they are only found in zoos or as pets in the U.S..

Transcript The Hedgehog

Newton is on a discovery tour through the forest. What is that? It's a hedgehog! Let's learn together with Newton all about the hedgehog. The hedgehog is easy to see. They have spiked fur, called spines or quills. Hedgehogs live in different parts of the world including the United Kingdom. This hedgehog lives in Europe, and is called the European Hedgehog. Hedgehogs look cute, but don't be fooled. The hedgehog is a predator, an insectivore and carnivore. This means that the hedgehog eats insects and other animals. They eat insects such as beetles, arthropods like spiders, molluscs like slugs, birds' eggs and rodents such as small mice. They are also scavengers, which means they eat dead animals. The hedgehog's habitat provides many places to hide. Long grass, hedges, foliage and rotting wood are things that can be found in their habitat. Since there aren't many large fields near a city, not many hedgehogs live there. However, hedgehogs can hide particularly well in the cities and towns and in people's gardens. Each hedgehog has a special place where they build several shelters to live in. Their home can be in a hollow tree trunk, an old garden house or in a large pile of leaves. It's important that the shelter is dry and protects them from the wind. Sometimes people like to do something nice for a hedgehog, like build them a shelter! Hedgehogs are common and have a very specific lifestyle. People rarely see them, but do you know why? Hedgehogs are nocturnal. This means they sleep during the day and are active at night. If a hedgehog is spotted, it is usually alone: ​​hedgehogs are solitary animals. Therefore, every hedgehog has an area where they build several shelters to live in alone. Some tips people follow to make their garden hedgehog-friendly are: avoiding the use of poison for mice or snails as this can harm the hedgehog. So it is important not to use it. If someone finds a particularly small hedgehog in autumn, they can bring it to a shelter or feed it cat food. Because only larger hedgehogs survive the winter. Remember to always ask a parent before treating animals. A hedgehog has to weigh at least as much as a small water bottle to prepare for winter. Older hedgehogs can weigh as much as a large water bottle. Ah there is Newton! Let's see what ze wrote down in zir notebook. Hedgehogs have a spiked fur and are solitary animals. We rarely see them because they are nocturnal. Hedgehog's food consists of smaller animals and insects. Since their habitat can be gardens, cities and towns, they sometimes live near humans. People can help hedgehogs that need food or shelter. But remember to check with an adult about the best way to help any hedgehogs you see. Now Newton has learnt enough about Hedgehogs, so ze sets back on zir way. Until next time!

2 comments
  1. scared of spiders but loved the video

    From Anniah, 16 days ago
  2. I'm scared of spiders but I try my best to not look at them but I love it!! It was sooo good!!!!

    From Kanni, over 1 year ago

The Hedgehog exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learnt? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video The Hedgehog.
  • What are these parts of a hedgehog called?

    Hints

    Hedgehogs have spiky fur. What is the special name for this?

    What would hedgehogs use to dig?

    Solution

    Here are the correctly labelled parts.

  • Would a hedgehog eat this?

    Hints

    A hedgehog is an insectivore, which means it eats insects such as beetles and spiders.

    A hedgehog is a carnivore which means it eats other animals, such as small birds and small mice.

    Solution

    Yes, a hedgehog would eat all of these food options.
    A hedgehog is a predator, insectivore, carnivore and scavenger. This means they eat insects and other animals such as beetles, spiders, slugs, small birds, small mice and dead animals.

  • Would a hedgehog live here?

    Hints

    Hedgehogs like to live in places where they can hide, such as long grass.

    Hedgehogs like to live in places where they can hide, such as rotting wood.

    Solution

    Yes, a hedgehog would live in all of these places.
    Hedgehogs live in places with long grass, hedges, foliage and rotting wood. When they are near cities, they choose habitats such as hollow tree trunks, old garden houses, large piles of leaves or shelters made for them by people.

  • What kind of lifestyle do hedgehogs live?

    Hints

    Hedgehogs build several shelters in an area to live in alone.

    Hedgehogs sleep during the day and are active at night.

    There are 3 correct choices.

    Solution
    • Hedgehogs are nocturnal.
    • Hedgehogs are loners.
    • Hedgehogs live in habitats where people rarely see them.
  • What types of food and habitat do hedgehogs prefer?

    Hints

    Hedgehogs prefer habitats that provide places to hide.

    Hedgehogs are predators that eat insects and other animals.

    Solution

    Blue Circle: Foods

    • Hedgehogs eat (amongst other things): spiders, rodents and dead animals.
    Yellow Circle: Habitats
    • Hedgehogs prefer habitats that allow them to hide, such as a pile of leaves, rotting wood and tall grass.

  • What are some important facts about the hedgehog?

    Hints

    A habitat is where an animal lives.

    A lifestyle is how an animal lives.

    Solution

    Blue: Habitat

    • can hide
    • long grass
    • hedges
    • and big piles of dried leaves
    Green: Food
    • predators
    • insectivores
    • carnivores
    • beetles and spiders, small mice and small birds
    Violet: Lifestyle
    • nocturnal
    • active at night
    • loners