Story By: Anastasia Smirnova, Sub-Editor:  Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News

This cute ‘ screaming’ hedgehog named Lucky is said to be able to accurately predict the weather and has forecast a mild spring in Russia this year.

Lucky lives in a flat in the town Andreevka just outside the western Russian capital Moscow and for some reason the hedgehog did not go into hibernation this winter.

Instead, the prickly four-toed hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) keeps Andrey Petrov company while also being able to predict what the weather will be like, according to its owner.

Petrov said that he filled two bowls, one blue and one red, with Lucky’s favourite snack, crickets.

The hedgehog apparently selected the red bowl and Petrov believes that means a clement spring is on its way.

He said: “As he is sitting by the red bowl, springtime will be warm.”

According to Petrov, the hedgehog repeated the test an hour later with the same result.

As a reward, the cute four-toed hedgehog was allowed to devour both bowls of crickets.

Netizen ‘Anastasia Komina’ said: “He is so adorable.”

A guest user of a local Internet forum added: “He is sooo sweet.”

The four-toed hedgehog is found in Africa in the wild and is nocturnal and highly energetic, sometimes covering miles of ground in a single night as it forages for food.

It has a high tolerance for toxins and has been recorded eating scorpions and venomous snakes. It can also let out a high-pitched ‘scream’ when threatened by predators.

These cute hedgehogs can be found across Africa from Gambia and Senegal, to Somalia and Mozambique.

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