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If you’re looking for a truly unique and unusual pet, you need not look further than a hedgehog. There are 14 species of hedgehogs native to Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. In the United States, the species Atelerix albiventris has been imported purely for being kept as pets, but not released into the wild.
In the wild, hedgehogs live for three or four years, and in good climates they may live seven years or longer. Hedgehogs are nocturnal insectivores that hibernate in colder months. Their diet consists mainly of earthworms, snails, beetles, and caterpillars, but they also eat a large range of other insects. The diet of a hedgehog may vary depending on its environment, and some have even been known to eat carrion, small birds, small mammals, or cracked birds’ eggs. As pets, they enjoy being treated to dog biscuits and pieces of sweet fruit. Hedgehogs have poor eyesight, so they rely mostly on hearing and smell to locate their food.
In the wild in cold climates, hedgehogs usually hibernate during the colder months of the year, but when kept inside as a pet, the hibernation period is either eliminated entirely or very short. During hibernation, a hedgehog will seem dead, because its heart rate drops from 190 beats per minute to 20 beats per minute, and its body temperature is lowered by 20% or more.
Hedgehogs as Pets
The quills of a hedgehog feel like a bristly brush, rather than a porcupine. They sport soft fur on their faces and bellies, and their tails are very hard to see because they are nothing more than nubs. The average size of a hedgehog is between 4 and 9 inches in length. Because they are nocturnal creatures, they aren’t the best pets for an early riser if you want to actually see them awake. As for personality, hedgehogs tend to be a bit nervous and not a standard cuddly lap animal. In order to bond with a hedgehog, you need to buy a just weaned, 6-8 week old hedgehog. Look for bright clear eyes, a well-rounded body, and an alert and energetic inquisitiveness.
If you’re looking for a truly unique and unusual pet, you need not look further than a hedgehog. There are 14 species of hedgehogs native to Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. In the United States, the species Atelerix albiventris has been imported purely for being kept as pets, but not released into the wild.
In the wild, hedgehogs live for three or four years, and in good climates they may live seven years or longer. Hedgehogs are nocturnal insectivores that hibernate in colder months. Their diet consists mainly of earthworms, snails, beetles, and caterpillars, but they also eat a large range of other insects. The diet of a hedgehog may vary depending on its environment, and some have even been known to eat carrion, small birds, small mammals, or cracked birds’ eggs. As pets, they enjoy being treated to dog biscuits and pieces of sweet fruit. Hedgehogs have poor eyesight, so they rely mostly on hearing and smell to locate their food.
In the wild in cold climates, hedgehogs usually hibernate during the colder months of the year, but when kept inside as a pet, the hibernation period is either eliminated entirely or very short. During hibernation, a hedgehog will seem dead, because its heart rate drops from 190 beats per minute to 20 beats per minute, and its body temperature is lowered by 20% or more.
Hedgehogs as Pets
The quills of a hedgehog feel like a bristly brush, rather than a porcupine. They sport soft fur on their faces and bellies, and their tails are very hard to see because they are nothing more than nubs. The average size of a hedgehog is between 4 and 9 inches in length. Because they are nocturnal creatures, they aren’t the best pets for an early riser if you want to actually see them awake. As for personality, hedgehogs tend to be a bit nervous and not a standard cuddly lap animal. In order to bond with a hedgehog, you need to buy a just weaned, 6-8 week old hedgehog. Look for bright clear eyes, a well-rounded body, and an alert and energetic inquisitiveness.
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