Other than smacking sounds and heavy breathing, the night is quiet. What could be making those noises outside? None other than a hedgehog in search of food. What do we know about this retiring creature mentioned in children’s storybooks?
People in many parts of the world have long known about this small mammal’s charm, even as a house pet. They are still relatively unknown in North America, but interest as house pets is increasing for these curious animals. The creature, with its ever-smiling facial features, has a humorous nature and fits in with just about everyone’s life style and schedule. They have no disagreeable odor and are most easily litter box-trained.
The hedgehog is often mistaken for the porcupine, because of the quills that cover their bodies. It’s fun to watch the hedgehog scurry across the floor, with tiny legs supporting their rotund bodies. Adults weigh from between 1/2 to 2 lbs., about the size of a Guinea pig. Some could be as light as seven ounces.
Hedgehogs love to snuggle. And, because they are quiet, they are easy to travel with. Hotels permit them, because they are not rodents. What do they eat? Cat food! Another bonus—unlike cats, which sometimes climb draperies and chew on furniture, hedgehogs do none of these annoying things.
Hedgehogs living in the wild in Europe need out-and-out protection—from such things as car traffic, or a potentially lethal pond in the garden. Sure, the animal can easily climb into a pond, but if the pond walls are too high, it cannot climb out and will drown. For those of us who live where hedgehogs roam wild, it behooves us to check the immediate environment for potentially harmful items that might spell the certain demise of such a cuddly creature.
