Hedgehog Fun for Kids

Hedgehogs are small, spiky mammals that roll into a ball when they feel scared. They are covered in prickly spines and have tiny faces with cute button noses. These little creatures are fun to learn about because they do neat things like sniff around at night and hibernate when it gets cold.

Watch a Hedgehog in Action!

Hedgehogs are most active at night when they search for food and explore their yards or forests. They sniff around and sometimes curl into a ball for protection.

What Is a Hedgehog?

A hedgehog is a small mammal with a coat of spines on its back. They have short legs and a pointed snout for sniffing out food.

• Covered in 5,000 to 7,000 spines
• Roll into a ball to stay safe
• Nocturnal—awake at night, sleeps during the day
• Fast movers for their size

Where Do Hedgehogs Live?

Hedgehogs can live in gardens, forests, and parks. They like places with bushes and leaves where they can hide and make nests.

• Found in Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand
• Prefer grassy areas, woods, and hedgerows
• Make nests from leaves, grass, and twigs

What Do Hedgehogs Eat?

Hedgehogs love to eat insects and other small creatures they find in the ground.

• Insects like beetles, worms, and caterpillars
• Sometimes eat small frogs, eggs, or fruit
• Often explore leaf piles looking for snacks

How Big Is a Hedgehog?

Hedgehogs are about the size of a child’s stuffed toy or a medium apple.

• Length: about 6–9 inches (15–23 cm)
• Weight: about 1–2 pounds (0.5–1 kg)
• About the size of a small melon or teddy bear

What Sound Do Hedgehogs Make?

Hedgehogs make lots of cute sounds like snuffling, huffing, and sometimes even hissing or clicking when they feel scared or excited.

Cool Hedgehog Facts

Hedgehogs are full of surprises that make kids smile:

• They have around 5,000 spines on their back
• Can hibernate in winter to save energy
• When they smell something new, they anoint themselves with scented foam
• They can run up to 2 feet (0.6 m) per second
• Hedgehog babies are called hoglets
• They use their nose to sniff out food under leaves
• Can live up to 5 years in the wild
• Some can protect themselves from snake venom

Printables and Coloring Fun

Have fun drawing and coloring your own hedgehog!

• Download Hedgehog Coloring Page (PDF)

Hedgehogs in the Eco-System

Hedgehogs help nature by eating insects and keeping gardens clean. They are important friends in the environment.

• Eat insects and pests, helping gardens stay healthy
• Wild hedgehog numbers are decreasing in some places
• Not endangered globally, but protected locally in Europe
• Hibernation helps them survive cold winters

Ask a Grown-Up to Help You Learn More

Learn even more fun facts about hedgehogs with these trusted websites:

• National Geographic Hedgehog Facts
• Nat Geo Kids Hedgehog
• hedgehog – Kids

Fun Questions About Hedgehogs

Ways to Donate and Support Hedgehogs

You can help hedgehogs by supporting wildlife groups and protecting their homes. Small actions make a big difference!

Visit Hedgehog Street to donate or get involved in helping hedgehogs in gardens and parks.