Hedgehogs are mammals of the family Erinaceidae.
Adult hedgehogs have up to 7000 spines, which they use as a defence against predators.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, coming out at night to eat worms, caterpillars and slugs amongst other things.
Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets. They are independent after 8 weeks.
Hedgehogs lives for an average of 2-3 years, but some live up to the age of 5.
Hedgehogs are one of only a handful of genuine hibernators in Britain.
The tend to hibernate from November to March in nests made from piled leaves.
Their closest relatives in the UK are moles and shrews. Despite their prickly appearance, they are not remotely related to porcupines.
There are 17 species of hedgehogs in the world.
The only UK species is the West-European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus, and it is found fairly commonly throughout Britain, although less so in coniferous woodland, mountains and urban areas.
Blonde hedgehogs are common in Alderney in the Channel Islands and North Ronaldsay.
The hedgehog population in the UK has fallen dramatically from 30 million in the 1950s to around 2 million today.