Page 166 - An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK)
P. 166
You might not believe it,
but hedgehogs can climb trees.
Hedgehog
S pines cover a hedgehog from head to tail. They are actually
special spiky hairs and, if you get too close, the hedgehog
rolls into a prickly ball to stay safe. Baby hedgehogs are born naked,
but after only a few hours spines start popping out all over their
pink-and-gray skin.
The European hedgehog wakes up after dark to rustle around
looking for creepy-crawlies to munch. In winter, it falls into a deep
sleep called hibernation. It might nap for five months, so you wouldn’t
want to invite it to a sleepover! While it hibernates, its body chills to
43°F (6°C), which is only a little warmer than the inside of a fridge.
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