Lisa Marie Pfeiffer, age 12, of Longview, Wash., for her question:

IS A HEDGEHOG A KIND OF PORCUPINE?

A hedgehog is a small animal that looks somewhat like a porcupine, but it is not a porcupine. The hedgehog has short, sharp spines on its back, but the spines are much thicker than those of a porcupine.

The common hedgehog lives in northern Europe and Asia, Asia minor, southern and eastern Africa and New Zealand.

A hedgehog is about 9 inches long. It has short ears and legs, a short tail and a long nose. The animal uses its long snout to dig for ants and other insects.

The stiff, needlelike growths called spines cover the hedgehog's back and protect it from its enemies. When in danger, the hedgehog tucks its head into its chest and rolls itself into a spiny ball.

Hedgehogs hunt for food at night.    In addition to eating ants and other insects, they also like snakes, small mammals, birds and birds, eggs.

When cold weather comes, hedgehogs settle down to hibernate.  Hedgehogs are easily tamed and some people keep them as pets to get rid of insects and other house pests.