Hi Jennifer,
In the animal world we have heard about the most strange adoptions, for example a lion that adopted an antelope, a turtle that adopted a rhino baby and the list goes on. Here’s a story about hedgehogs that adopted a cleaning brush as their mother :
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=478026&in_page_id=1
Many hedgehogs are taken into care each year in Sweden, mostly injured animals and young ones unlikely to survive hibernation.
Hedgehog litter size averages 4, but can be up to 9.
Hedgehogs released back into the wild have a high survival rate. A majority adapt to life in the wild quickly, find their food and make nests and quickly learn their ways.
Their main enemies are badgers and cars (road accidents).
Ann Novek
Sweden
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see part 1 here: http://www.jennifermarohasy.com/blog/archives/002469.html
and if you can cope with the really gruesome, click here, but warning the photograph may cause distress: http://www.jennifermarohasy.com/blog/archives/002374.html
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
One more interesting aspect with hedgehogs is their self-lathering.
A hedgehog can eat/ lick / nibble toxic cigarett buts and some other smelly and toxic substances , and suddenly contort itself , start foaming at the mouth , and lick the foam onto its spine.
This is believed to do with self-defence , and hedgehogs are ” highly” resistant to most toxins , including big poisonous mushrooms.
Sorry, there’s a little error in the above post. A giant turtle adopted a hippo baby , not a rhino one….
I will be away till next Monday, so if anyone have any questions for me I’ll reply then.
Have a nice weekend all!
Now if we can just get Louis to adopt Luke then I’ll accept anything’s possible!
Great photo Ann!
Thanks Ann,
I second Jim’s motion.
Well I thought it was appropriate.
Ann,
I once heard that adult hedgehogs roll amongst fallen apples, so impaling the fruit on their prickles. They then carry them home for their children. Is there an equivalent tale in Sweden? Although far fetched, I think such stories are of value in establishing affection for the little creatures. Much like some Australian Aboriginal animal stories, for example bandicoots biting kangaroos on their bottoms, and hanging on, so causing the kangaroo’s long, pointy tail.
Hi Davey,
You have always interesting stories… no, I haven’t heard about any hedgehog story in Sweden, though I know there are many ancient stories about animals and where they come afrom, for example , the red colour on the robins breast comes from Jesus blood when he was cruciefied , so goes the ancient story…