Hedgehog Day takes place every year on the 2nd February, It shares this day with Groundhog Day in the US and Canada. As there are no Hedgehogs in the Americas immigrants took that tradition with them from Europe. It is all about predicting the weather. In the US it is all about emerging from hibernation. The belief is that if the Groundhog comes out and sees his shadow then he will retreat into his burrow as winter will last another six weeks.
The tradition is similar in Europe with its origins going back to Roman times and afterwards getting tied in with the Christian celebration of Candlemas. The behavior of animals and plants has always been used as a way of predicting the weather
The Hedgehogs are found throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. There are Seventeen different species. The European Hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus is the one most people are familiar with. The Hedgehog has been with us virtually unchanged for at least 15 million years. So our ancestors always knew the Hedgehog.
This delightful little mammal has a lifespan of 4 - 7 years but longer in captivity.
Hedgehogs are omnivorous and feed on a wide variety of foods. They are especially good at controlling garden pests.
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