That makes it hard for a snake to actually bite them (or survive eating one if they do ... hedgehogs are coating the spines with might be irritating to predators that try to eat them—but ...

Q: What do the zoo's four-toed hedgehogs eat? Four-toed hedgehogs are carnivorous animals, so the Tulsa Zoo feeds them a special insectivore pellet diet and adds in cut-up fruits and vegetables.