Being part of the family Erinaceidae, the hedgehog is a spiny mammal that can be found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and also New Zealand, by introduction. There are seventeen known species, which are divided into five genera, and out of all of these there are no native species to Australia and the Americas anymore, as the ones from the Americas have become extinct.
Hedgehogs are spiny mammals, part of the family Erinaceidae. They are found trough parts of Europe, Africa and Asia, and have been introduced in New Zealand as well. There are no living species native to the Americas, as the ones that existed once, are now extinct.
Hedgehogs are a powerful form of pest control. A single hedgehog can keep an average garden free of pests by eating up to 200 grams of insects each night. It is common throughout the United Kingdom to see people attempting to lure hedgehogs into their gardens with treats and hedgehog-sized holes in their fences.
Hedgehogs are spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae. There are seventeen species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction. Like many of the first mammals, they have adapted to a nocturnal way of life. Hedgehogs’ spiny protection resembles that of the unrelated porcupines, which are rodents. They have become pests in areas such as New Zealand, where they have been introduced. Due to lack of predators, they cause immense damage to native species including insects, snails, lizards and ground-nesting birds, particularly shore birds. They can also suffer many diseases common to humans, such as cancer, fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease.