Hedgehog Day is February 2nd!

You've most likely heard of Groundhog Day... the traditional holiday where a groundhog comes out of his hole and looks for his shadow. If he sees his shadow, he's supposed to become frightened and go back into his hole, predicting six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, this means winter will end soon. It's a fun little holiday that delights children and adults alike. But have you ever heard of Hedgehog Day?

According to legend, Hedgehog Day is actually the original Groundhog Day. Thousands of years ago, every year on February 2^nd, the Romans used a hedgehog to predict whether winter would end quickly or continue on. Instead of watching the hedgehog in the morning, the Romans would watch the hedgehog at night. If the hedgehog saw his shadow because of the clear moon, it would mean a longer winter. The hedgehog would know to continue hibernating. Legend says that, when people began to inhabit North America, they wanted to continue this tradition. But, since there were no local hedgehogs available, a native animal... the groundhog... was used instead. Hence, the beginning of Groundhog Day.

Here are a few facts about hedgehogs, to help you celebrate their special day.

The name "hedgehog" comes from the sound a hedgehog makes... hog-like grunts... and the fact that it digs through hedges to find insects, worms, snails and other small critters to eat.

Female hedgehogs stay pregnant for about thirty-four days. They then give birth to four to six babies.

Baby hedgehogs are called hoglets! They are white when they are born.

At birth, a hedgehog's spine is soft and short. As it grows older, it's spine becomes sharp and prickly, offering defense against predators.

Male hedgehogs can have up to 500 spines on them!

Hedgehogs have soft, furry legs, faces, tails and bellies.

Hedgehogs make snorting and clicking sounds. When they are happy, they purr!

Hedgehogs can eat snakes. Their spikes protect them from snake bites. Hedgehogs have long tongues. When they smell something they like, they salivate, and then use their long tongues to spread saliva onto their spines! Scientists aren't quite sure why hedgehogs do this. It may be a way for them to make their own scent camouflage with their environment. Or, the saliva may be a toxin to predators.

Hedgehogs can make themselves poisonous. They eat poisonous plants, which they are immune to. They then lick their spines. This is a way for them to add yet another defense against predators.

Hedgehogs can swim and climb trees... and if a hedgehog falls out of a tree, it bounces!

Happy Hedgehog Day!