10 interesting hedgehog facts
1. They MUST be kept warm or they will attempt hibernation.
Hedgehogs in the wild can forage and hunt for their food to in order to store fat and prepare for hibernation. However, a domesticated hedgehogs does not have access to the proper foods to hibernate. It is absolutely necessary to house your hedgehog at at least 70 degrees or they will attempt hibernation (which can be fatal).
2. In the wild a hedgehog forage for food and eat berries, small mammals, and bugs. A domesticated hedgehogs main diet consists of high quality high protein cat food.
The most important invertebrates in a wild hedgehogs diet are worms, beetles, slugs, caterpillars, earwigs and millipedes. They also eat a wide range of other insects. Sometimes they will take advantage of carrion, frogs, baby rodents, baby birds, birds' eggs and fallen fruit.
As a domesticated hedgehog, they should primarily eat a blend of dry cat food. The food should be high in protein, low in fat, and list chicken as one of the primary ingredients.
As a domesticated hedgehog, they should primarily eat a blend of dry cat food. The food should be high in protein, low in fat, and list chicken as one of the primary ingredients.
3. The closest relative to a hedgehog is a shrew.
Although hedgehogs are small mammals, they are not a rodent. Their order is Erinaceomorpha, which means they are not related to porcupines at all! Hedgehogs share a close lineage to shrews and moles.
4. Domesticated hedgehogs like to poop while they run on their wheel.
Nobody knows why but most hedgehogs are multitaskers and poop while they run on their wheel. The easiest way to clean their wheel is to soak it in hot water with dish soap and a little bit of vinegar.
5. A group of hedgehogs is called an "array" or a "prickle".
Most hedgehogs are solitary, but they will come together to mate.
6. Hedgehogs are born completely naked.
When a hedgehog is first born, they are completely naked with no quills. Within a few hours their quills start to emerge.
7. Hedgehogs are illegal to own in Georgia, California, parts of New York, Hawaii and Maine. If you have more than 4 female hedgehogs, you must obtain a USDA license.
These restrictions may have been enacted due to the ability of some hedgehog species to carry foot and mouth disease, a highly contagious disease of cloven-hooved animals.
8. Hedgehogs have some natural immunity against snake venom.
Like opossums, mice, and moles, hedgehogs have some natural immunity against some snake venom through the protein erinacin in the animal's muscular system, although it is available only in small amounts and a viper bite may still be fatal.
9. The gestation period for African Pygmy Hedgehogs is 35 to 55 days. For us, an average sized litter is 3-5 hoglets.
Most domestic hedgehogs have a gestation period of 35 days to 55 days, other species of hedgehogs vary.
10. The hedgehog was named for its unique foraging methods.
In the wild, hedgehogs root through hedges seeking their prey while making snorts, squeals and grunts. Like a hog, of the hedge … hence, “hedgehog.”