Facts About Hedgehogs

Oddly enough, today the hedgehog is a protected species in most areas that persecuted it.

Hedgehogs, also known by the old English name of urchone or urchin, mean a kind of troublesome elf.

Shakespeare helped make the term hedgehog more popular, however his thoughts on the little creature did not cast a positive light on it.

Hedgehogs were used for medicine. Remedies in the Middle Ages described parts of the animal as being good for boils, stopping hair from falling out, improving night vision, and for colic.

Their stretched skins were used for carding wool and dressing flax. They were put on the top rails of orchard fences for keeping out small boys from entering the property and coachmen attached the skins to carriage shafts to prevent their horses from napping on the job.

Countries began speaking up for the animals in the middle to late 19th century. However there were countries that never had any ill feelings towards the misunderstood animal. Norwegians held the hedgehog as a symbol of independent thinkers. The ancient Chinese civilization in the He Be Province regarded their resident hedgehogs as sacred.

Latvians were fond of these little creatures and they were well-loved characters in Latvian folktales. Hedgehogs were often used on traditional charm whistles called Svilpaunicki.

Making a sound was good luck and a whistle with an animal meant an embodiment of good luck. They portrayed these animals as the underdog who never gave up until it accomplished its goal.