What Is a Group of Hedgehogs Called? It's Adorably Appropriate

This hedgehog is realizing it can't remember the last time it was in a group setting. yul38885 / Shutterstock

Hedgehogs usually live alone, so seeing more than one together feels special. When it happens, English gives that group a very specific word.

By asking, "What is a group of hedgehogs called," you're setting yourself up for one of the most charming facts in the realm of animal language.

Collective nouns give personality to animals, and hedgehogs end up with a name that matches their look almost perfectly.

Contents

A Group of Hedgehogs Is Called a Prickle
Why Hedgehogs Rarely Form a Group
How Prickle Fits Among Collective Nouns
Comparing Hedgehogs With Other Animals
Are There Other Terms People Use?

A Group of Hedgehogs Is Called a Prickle

The correct collective noun is a prickle. You may also see it written as "a prickle of hedgehogs."

The reason is simple. Hedgehogs are covered in stiff, prickly spines, and when several animals curl up or huddle close, those spines dominate the scene.

Why Hedgehogs Rarely Form a Group

Most hedgehogs prefer solitude. Adults usually meet only for mating or when a mother is raising young.

Because they do not live in permanent family units, a group of hedgehogs is often temporary. You might see a prickle around a shared food source, during cold weather, or when young animals have not yet dispersed.

How Prickle Fits Among Collective Nouns

Collective nouns describe animals acting as one unit. Some are practical, while others are playful.

A parliament of owls suggests wisdom. A crash of rhinos describes sudden movement or sound. A prickle of hedgehogs focuses on what you would feel if you touched the group—which you should not try.

Comparing Hedgehogs With Other Animals

Animal group names vary widely across species. Cats do not have a single colorful collective noun (they can be a clowder, a colony, or as kittens they can be a litter), while elephants travel in family groups called herds.

Other small mammals get creative names too. Ferrets comprise a business, whereas raccoons gather in gazes. Some animals share terms depending on context, which shows how flexible these words can be.

Collective nouns survive because people like sharing them. They show up in writing, books, classroom posts, and even casual comments.

Are There Other Terms People Use?

Sometimes people use "group" as a general fallback. That is fine for clarity, but it loses personality.

"Prickle" remains the preferred and most widely recognized term. It is specific, descriptive, and rooted in how the animals actually look.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.