Hedgehog (CR 1/8)
Diminutive Animal
Alignment: Always Neutral
Initiative: +0; Senses: Listen +5. Spot +5
AC: 16 (+4 size, +2 natural) touch 14, flat-footed 16
Hit Dice: 1/4d8 (1 hp)
Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +1
Speed: 15 ft.
Space: 1 ft./0 ft.
Base Attack +0; Grapple -16
Attack: Bite +1 melee
Full Attack: Bite +1 melee
Damage: Bite 1d3-4
Special Attacks/Actions:
Abilities: Str 2, Dex 12, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 5
Special Qualities: Defensive Ball, improved evasion
Feats:
Skills: Hide +10 and Listen +5. Spot +5
Advancement:
Climate/Terrain: Temperate forests
Organization: Solitary
Treasure/Possessions: None
Source:
Converted
Hedgehogs are easily recognized by their spines. Their spines are not poisonous or barbed and, unlike the quills of a porcupine, cannot easily be removed from the hedgehog. However, when under extreme stress or during sickness, a hedgehog can also lose spines.
Hedgehogs are fairly vocal and communicate through a combination of grunts, snuffles and/or squeals, depending on species.
Similar to opossums, mice, and moles, hedgehogs have some natural immunity against snake venom.
Hedgehogs are primarily nocturnal, although, depending on the species, they may be more or less active during the day. The hedgehog sleeps for a large portion of the daytime either under cover of bush, grass, rock or in a hole in the ground. Again, different species can have slightly different habits, but in general hedgehogs dig dens for shelter. All wild hedgehogs can hibernate, although not all do; hibernation depends on temperature, species, and abundance of food.
A defense that all species of hedgehogs possess is the ability to roll into a tight ball, causing all of the spines to point outwards. However, its effectiveness depends on the number of spines, and since some of the desert hedgehogs evolved to carry less weight, they are much more likely to try to run away and sometimes even attack the intruder, trying to ram into the intruder with its spines, and rolling as a last resort.
The hedgehog uses its quills to protect itself from predators, using muscles which draw their quilled skin to cover their full body, and pulling in the parts of their bodies not covered, such as their head, feet, and belly. This form of defense is the hedgehog's most successful, but is usually their last resort.
Hedgehogs have many alternate defense mechanisms. In most situations a hedgehog will flee rather than confront a threat, rolled up in a ball or not. All hedgehogs possess the stamina to run, many can make 4.5 miles per hour or better, and are particularly adept at climbing steep walls, trees, and fences and even swimming.
Defensive Ball (Ex): Rolls into a ball as a standard action, granting a +2 circumstance bonus on saves and AC. Unrolling is a free action.