Good morning to you all!

Yesterday’s quiz answers:
a) Muntjac deer
b) Fallow deer
c) Roe deer
d) Sika deer
e) Red Deer
f) Chinese water deer
g) Only Red and Roe deer are native to the UK.

Winners:
Congrats go to Susan McVey and Anitat for being quick of the ball and getting all the answer correct! A prize will be winging it’s way to you soon. For everyone else that got the answers correct, keep an eye on your email. There may be a little something for you too!

Species of the day – Hedgehogs
There are 17 different species of hedgehog found in Europe, Asia, Africa and New Zealand.

They have survived on this planet for 15 million years, changing little over this time. They have adapted a nocturnal, insectivorous way of life.

There spines are hollow hairs and are not poisonous or barbed. They have about 7000 spines that cover there body which are shed when young and replaced by adult spines.

There diet consists of insects, berries, snails, frogs and toads, birds eggs, mushrooms, grass roots, and earthworms. They are also partial to cat/dog food with a preference for chicken flavoured, and a dislike for fish flavoured food, chopped peanuts and raisins. They make a wonderful natural pest control in gardens.

Some larger species of hedgehog have been recorded to live up to 16 years old in the wild, although 4-7 years in the average.
They have between 3-6 young in a litter, and it is not uncommon for a adult males to kill newborn males (bad daddies!). They are born blind and with their quills underneath the skin which break through after being cleaned.

They usually go into hibernation around November in the UK, when temperatures drop and stay low, and food sources become scarce. Help your hedgehogs by feeding them and erecting a hedgehog box:

Happy blogging!
Fiona