When it is disturbed or threatened by another animal the hedgehog immediately sticks its spines up and rolls into a tight ball. The armour of sharp spines, pointing in all directions, that is presented to the enemy is usually enough to send it away. But sometimes a hungry badger or fox will roll the hedgehog over or even throw it into water where it uncurls at once. Then the enemy can attack its soft underparts.
The long sharp quills of the porcupine and the body armour of the South American armadillo are also examples of natural defences. Hedgehogs like to sleep in quiet places during the day. Their favourite haunts are under hedges or piles of dead leaves, or in burrows in banks. They are nocturnal animals, which means that they are active mainly at night. Bats and owls are also nighttime animals. When twilight falls, hedgehogs come out to feed. They have a varied diet. They like insects, snails, slugs and worms.
