HEDGEHOGS by Martina

 Hedgehogs are about 25 cm long and weigh about 1 kg. They have lots of spines to protect them from other animals or predators. Their spines haven't got poison. 

Hedgehogs can have  seven babies in a litter. When the babies are born their spines are short and soft. After their spines are longer and stifer. Hedgehogs' babies, like kittens, do not open their eyes until some time after they are born. After about three weeks they can safely follow their mother when she goes to look for food.

Hedgehogs live in hedges and gardens. They're nocturnal animals. They sleep during the day and come out and night. The hedgehogs  hibernate in winter. They eat insects and small mice, lizards and frogs. Sometimes they eat even snakes.When they eat snakes, their spines protect  them from snakes' bite. 

When hedgehogs sleep, they curl up into a ball. This is to protect parts of  their bodies, which do not have spines: their head, legs and their bellies. Foxes, badgers and other predators leave hedgehogs and look for other easier preys, covered with spines.