Hedgehog

Quick Take

• Hedgehogs look like perfect low-maintenance pets, but owning one could actually be illegal where you live. Check legal ownership rules →
• Disturbing a hedgehog nest triggers a mother's darkest instinct, and the outcome is not what you'd expect from a devoted parent. See maternal behavior details →
• Those adorable quills carry a hidden health risk that most first-time owners never think to ask about. Discover the quill health risks →
• Hedgehogs have roamed the earth for 15 million years, and one ancient species had a size that would stop you cold. Explore their ancient origins →

Their unique and descriptive name is due to the way that they forage for food with rather unique methods. For individuals who are willing to take them on as pets, they can be incredibly useful in the elimination of irritating garden insects and other pests.

The most notable feature of the hedgehog is its coat, which is composed of stiff yet sharp spines. When in danger, they defend themselves by rolling into a ball, causing their spines to protrude and act as a defense against possible threats of danger.

Nocturnal in nature, hedgehogs are known to sleep throughout the day and wake up and start searching for food at night. They also hibernate in cold climate areas. There are 17 different species of hedgehogs, that have some very interesting facts about them.

Incredible Hedgehog Facts

• Hedgehogs curl up into a prickly ball when they sense danger or are attacked.
• They hibernate in areas within their natural environment.
• Their coat is made up of sharp spines, which they expose as a defense mechanism.
• These animals sleep throughout the day, waking up to search for food during the night.
• They help to eliminate common garden pests by eating them and are hence considered very useful pets.
• While hedgehogs may look like great pets, they are illegal to own in many states.

Evolution

Scientists believe that hedgehogs were on Earth 15 million years ago, making them some of the oldest mammals still existing on the planet.  They seem to share some characteristics with hogs, and one now-extinct relative of the hedgehog, Deinogalerix, from the Gargano region of Italy, was about 60 centimeters long — roughly the size of a large cat. They do share distant ancestry with shrews.

Like some prehistoric animals, the hedgehog’s senses are based around smell rather than eyesight. They could have survived where other mammals perished due to their practice of hibernation, broad diet, and protective spines.

Classification and Scientific Name

Hedgehogs belong to the kingdom Animalia and phylum Chordata. Their class is called Mammalia, and the order is called Eulipotyphla. The family, Erinaceidae, covers both the hedgehog and the closely related moonrat.

Erinaceinae, their subfamily, is a combination of “Erinaceus” and the suffix “-inae.” Erinaceus is one of the genera that hedgehogs are classified in, coming from the Latin word that simply means “hedgehog.” The root of the word – khḗr – is linked to the Greek word for hedgehog, paired with the root “ǵʰer,” which means “to be bristly.”

Types of Hedgehogs

Worldwide, there are 17 species of hedgehogs found throughout parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa, and in New Zealand by introduction. The types include:

• European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus): Native to Western Europe. Other names: West European hedgehog, common hedgehog. Largest and heaviest of the species, with most of its body covered by approximately 5,000–7,000 brown and white spines.
• Four-toed Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris): Native to Central and East Africa. Other names: African pygmy hedgehog. Found in savannah and cropland habitats. Known for its four toes, whereas others have five.
• Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus): Native to Central Asia and Arabia. Lives in burrows and is notable for its prominent ears.
• Southern African Hedgehog (Atelerix frontalis): Native to multiple countries in southern Africa. Dark brown with white spines that have dark brown tips.
• Desert Hedgehog (Paraechinus aethiopicus): Native to desert habitats in Africa and Arabia. One of the smaller species, with longer spines than others for extra protection and a dark muzzle.
• North African Hedgehog (Atelerix algirus): Native to Algeria, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Spain, and Tunisia. Similar to the European hedgehog, but it has a longer snout and legs than other species, making it a fast runner.
• Southern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor): Native to Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. Other names: white-bellied hedgehog or white-chested hedgehog. Builds grass nests rather than dens.
• Indian Long-eared Hedgehog (Hemiechinus collaris): Native to India and Pakistan. It has well-developed senses because of its large ears, eyes, and whiskers. A nocturnal animal that lives in burrows.
• Somali Hedgehog (Atelerix sclateri): Native to Somalia and Somaliland. Inhabits savannah grasslands.
• Indian Hedgehog (Paraechinus micropus): Native to India and Pakistan. Similar to the Indian Hedgehog Long-eared Hedgehog, but with smaller ears and known for a masked face similar to a raccoon. Inhabits desert areas.
• Brandt’s Hedgehog (Paraechinus hypomelas): Native to the Middle East and Central Asia. Named for first being described by Johann Friedrich von Brandt, a director of the Zoological Department at the St Petersburg Academy of Sciences. It has large ears and is a fast runner.
• Northern White-breasted Hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus): Native to areas of Western and Eastern Europe.
• Amur Hedgehog (Erinaceus amurensis): Native to Amur Oblast and Primorye in Russia, Manchuria in China, and the Korean Peninsula. Other names: Manchurian hedgehog.
• Hugh’s Hedgehog (Mesechinus hughi): Native to Central China and Manchuria. Other names: central Chinese hedgehog. Habitats are forests, shrublands, and dry steppes.
• Daurian Hedgehog (Mesechinus dauuricus): Native to Russia and Mongolia. Listed as protected in Russia. Lives in dens and inhabits forests, shrublands, and dry steppes.
• Bare-bellied Hedgehog (Paraechinus nudiventris): Native to India. Other names: Madras hedgehog. It’s endemic to dry, arid areas and scrubby jungles.
• Lesser Hedgehog Tenrec (Echinops telfairi): Native to Madagascar. Inhabits subtropical or tropical dry forests, shrubland, and dry savannas.

Appearance

Identified as small mammals, hedgehogs have cone-shaped faces. They have short legs, and their entire body (apart from their face) has sharp spines that can hurt anyone around them. As closely as they resemble porcupines, the two mammals are not closely related. The spines are strongly attached to the skin, making it nearly impossible for them to be removed without immense force.

The quills of these animals can easily penetrate the surface of any mammal’s skin, including humans. With this puncture, bacteria and other germs can quickly spread, putting attackers at risk for further damage beyond the initial puncture.

Some of the bacteria associated with this wound can cause problems like rashes, fevers, and pain in the stomach. Anyone who has regular contact with these animals should wash their hands well, reducing the risk of spreading disease.

Individuals who regularly handle hedgehogs are at low risk of accidentally puncturing the skin since their weight is evenly distributed. The only time that this wound becomes risky is when the animal feels unsafe, naturally defending itself against danger.

Behavior

In their natural setting, hedgehogs are usually solitary animals. They are nocturnal, taking the night to hunt down and forage for food while sleeping during the day. When sleeping on summer and spring days, they make nests for themselves as a home. The diet of the animal is made up of insects and other invertebrates, though they are not very high on the food chain.

Hedgehogs, upon sensing danger, roll themselves into a sharp, prickly ball. They are known to anoint themselves by licking any new scent that they like, licking their quills to have the new scent on themselves.

Even though these animals are often kept as pets, they might not enjoy being petted right away. You will have to earn the trust of a hedgehog so that it begins to relax and enjoy it when you touch it.

This animal with spikes is not usually aggressive, leaving its quills to defend it if it needs to. Hedgehogs will make hissing noises and sometimes bite at a threat, but they don’t seek out animals and humans to attack. There is a strikingly low risk of being harmed by a hedgehog since they are more defensive than aggressive.

When hedgehogs are relaxed, their quills are not that sharp. Even in their most tense moments, it is highly unlikely that a hedgehog would draw any blood from humans, though abrasions can occur.

Habitat

There are a variety of places around the world where these animals find comfort in living, and they will build a nest when they find the place that they want to stay. They usually find their comfortable habitat in very wet and extremely dense pine forests.

Mostly, hedgehogs can be found in Britain. Besides that, they are also scattered in upland areas, including the sides of the mountains and the moorlands. They also love residing on the edge of woodlands.

Sources suggest that wild hedgehogs are originally from Africa, Europe, and Asia. Though they have become increasingly popular in the United States as well, they don’t naturally exist in the wild in the US — and while hedgehogs can be found in New Zealand, they were introduced there rather than being native. Much of their presence in this country is due to being bred as pets.

Diet

These animals are nocturnal and eat only at night. As a pet, hedgehogs should only be fed high-quality hedgehog food, which can be found in specialty pet food stores. Some owners prefer to shop for the natural foods that they would get in the wild.

In the wild, they eat a variety of things, such as several insects. They eat almost all invertebrates, frogs, carrion, rodents, baby birds, eggs of birds, and also fallen fruits from the trees in the dense forests.

Hedgehogs have a natural aversion to milk, making them lactose intolerant.

Predators and Threats

Like all other animals, hedgehogs also make an important part of the ecosystem and act as food for several living creatures. Most predators of the hedgehog are naturally carnivorous. However, when they hunt, hedgehogs will only seek out small mammals and insects.

One of the main threats that hedgehogs consistently face has been that of humans. Humans are primarily responsible for the deforestation of their habitats, as well as the way that they put these animals up for sale in pet shops.

What Eats Hedgehogs?

Hedgehogs don’t rank very high on the food chain, making them sources of nutrients for owls, wild dogs, mongooses, and mustelids. They can also be the prey of wolves and foxes, leaving them exposed during their sleeping hours.

What Do Hedgehogs Eat?

As for their own nutrients, berries and similar plants are necessary to their diet, providing tons of nutrients in a small amount at once. When hedgehogs hunt, they look for small invertebrates and insects, like beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, and slugs.

Some pet owner websites will recommend attracting lost hedgehogs with wet dog food or cat food, though foods with fish should be avoided.

Reproduction, Babies, and Lifespan

Hedgehogs are usually solitary animals and are known to come together only for mating. During mating, the hedgehog female will produce an egg, which must be fertilized by a male. In an effort to get the attention of the female, the male will put on a show of circling, puffing, and snorting in a rhythm. It can breed throughout the year with no particular cycle.

When a female becomes pregnant, their gestation will typically last for no more than 40 days. Though it can be difficult to tell if a pet hedgehog is pregnant, owners should look out for frequent feeding and slight weight gain.

Each year, the hedgehog babies are born into groups that are called litters. These groups can comprise up to 11 babies, which are commonly known as hoglets. The hoglets will remain with their mothers for 4-7 weeks, during which time the mother will protect their young.

As a rule of thumb, never disturb a hedgehog nest. Mothers will sense the disruption and will notice a new smell on both the nest and their own young. If they do not recognize the scent, they will sometimes eat the young.

If the hoglets survive their childhood, they will depart on their own after a brief time. Hedgehogs usually have a lifespan of two to five years, but some hedgehogs can live up to 7 years.

In the Zoo

Hedgehogs are commonly kept in zoos, though they are occasionally kept in homes as pets as well. They are usually fed quality hedgehog food in captivity, which can be purchased from specialty shops. The females and males are kept together so that they can naturally mate, rather than being artificially inseminated.

It is often said that hedgehogs can be kept in cages, provided that they are escape-proof. The cages of the hedgehogs should be as large as possible so that these animals cannot destroy them easily. As a protective measure, the base of the cage should also be very solid so that the hedgehog does not get hurt.

In some areas, it is illegal to keep hedgehogs as a pet. Some states that do not allow hedgehogs to be kept privately include California, Georgia, and Hawaii. It is also illegal within the city limits of New York City, Omaha (Nebraska), and Washington, D.C. It is also against the law to bring hedgehogs out of Africa, according to reports from PETA.

It is estimated that, around the world, there are 17 different species. Though they were once in the millions, their total population dropped below one million in 2019.