Welcome to You Ask Andy

Clyde Wildes, age 12, of Kennebunkport,  for the question:

Where do hedgehogs live?

There are no true hedgehogs in the New Worlds none in Australia. Madagascar or the polar regions. Apart from these areas, there are hedgehogs almost everywhere in the world. They are not a common sight, however, for the charming little fellows prefer secluded country life and do their prowling mostly at night.

A full grown hedgehog is less than a foot long. His round chunky body is covered with spines and his pointed face is covered with coarse hair. As a rule, he runs along at a jaunty trot, but when trouble threatens he rolls himself into a prickly ball. Few enemies are bravo or silly enough to try and bite a ball of prickles and when they have gone away in disgust, Mr. Hedgehog unrolls himself and trots on his way. He is not related to our porcupine, though he is distantly related to the moles and the shrews.

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