There are many talents attributed to the hedgehog through the ages. One of the most famous recounting of hedgehog talents dates back to the 1st century AD as written by Pliny the Edler in the Historia Naturalis. At the time it was believed that hedgehogs would climb apple trees, knock apples down to the ground, and then impale apples upon their spines by rolling over them in order to carry the apples back to their den. Hedgehogs however do not climb trees or stock food in their burrows.
Hedgehogs were also believed for a time to have two anal passages – not one! This mistaken belief was probably due to the slightly odd shape of a hedgehog stool as a simple examination would prove this idea false!
Medieval Britain had numerous interesting beliefs about hedgehogs. Hedgehogs were believed to steal milk from one’s cow if left out at night. This led to Parliament offering a three pence bounty in 1566 for all hedgehogs caught and killed. Over time it also became common knowledge that hedgehogs would steal eggs. While hedgehogs will eat eggs it appears that these eggs must already be cracked as a hedgehog is not capable of cracking one on his own.
Those of us in the United States are very familiar with “Groundhog Day.” Originally hedgehogs were the forecasting animals dating all the way back to the Romans. Groundhogs were then substituted in the United States due to fact there aren’t any native hedgehogs.
Hedgehog as Food and Natural Remedy
Hedgehogs were used as a food source by the ancient Egyptians as well as Europeans in the Middle Ages. The most common known way to eat a hedgehog was to coat the entire body in clay and then bake it. Afterwards the clay could be removed taking the sharp quills with it. Many folk remedies also relied up hedgehog as a main ingredient. It was believed that the consumption of hedgehog could cure leprosy, colic, boils, poor vision, dropsy, and stomach problems. These days, hedgehogs are not commonly eaten although in the 1980’s hedgehog flavored chips were sold in Great Britain – however these chips did not actually contain hedgehog.
Mon Jan 21, 2013 9:08 am