Putting The HOG in Hedgehog

Hedgehogs got their name through from their foraging habits.

 

 

Picture from National Geographic

As they move through the hedges looking for worms and insects, they make a piggy grunting noise. Hence, hedge-hog.

As Prickly as a Hedgehog

Hedgehogs are named after their foraging skills. They search through hedges and other brush to find food, such as insects, worms, mice, frogs and snakes. They use their coat as a defense to warn off predators, by closing up into prickly balls that appear unappetizing. They often stay in this position when they’re sleeping during the day, and then they wake up to hunt at night.