The hedgehog is a small, noisy mammal whose hair is modified into stiff, spiky spines on the upper part of its body.
Hedgehogs are native to Africa, Asia, Europe and have been introduced to New Zealand.
They can live in a wide variety of habitats, including deserts, forests, and plains. Hedgehogs have a life span of about 10 years in captivity. When threatened, the hedgehog can pull itself into a prickly ball almost impossible to attack. It has a soft underbelly with white hair. They often poke around in the dirt for food.