Daily Life: a hedgehog is normally a solitary, nocturnal animal. During spring and summer days it sleeps in a temporary nest and wakes up at dusk to venture out and hunt for food. It is an insectivore and eats all sorts of invertebrates, is partial to birds' eggs and raids mouse nests for newborn young.
8. “Anointing Themselves” Here's a behavior you won't likely see in other family pets: a hedgehog that finds a particularly exciting new scent will lick at it until he develops what is best described as a scented froth in his mouth.
If a noise is loud to you, it is probably too loud for your hedgehog as well. Observe the sounds your hedgehog is making towards you as well. If he is purring, he is happy and content.
Signs of stress
Many hedgehogs are busy and want to try to explore but a stressed hedgehog will be much more persistent and not easily distracted. The stressed hedgehog may also twitch or shake its head nervously. It is almost as if the hedgehog is saying “Sensory overload. I can't take it anymore.”
Hedgehogs are fun, friendly, inquisitive pets. They prefer to sleep during the day and are active at dusk and in the evenings. With proper care your hedgehog should live approximately 6 years or more.
Every hedgehog has a unique personality, but most aren't interested in human affection. Caretakers note that it takes a lot of time and effort to get a hedgehog to tolerate being held. Like porcupines, hedgehogs have sharp, prickly quills that they use to fend off predators.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal and only come out at night. Generally, any hedgehog out during the day is probably in trouble and will need to be picked up and taken to a wildlife rescue centre.
Depression. Without room, a hedgehog will show signs of depression, such as excessive sleeping, refusal to eat, repetitious behaviour, and self mutilation.
Grunting Like a Pig
It's the noise that hedgehogs make when they're out and about, busy searching for food at night. Though the noise can be surprisingly loud, a grunting, snuffling hog is perfectly happy and should be left to go about her business.
Signs That a Hedgehog is Hibernating Not Dead
Firstly, hedgehogs generally hibernate curled up in a ball. But they don't naturally die curled up. So if your hedgehog is in a ball, there is a good chance it is hibernating, not dead. If the hedgehog is curled into a ball, you can also touch it's spines lightly.
It depends on the personality of the individual hedgehog and how much handling the hedgehog has had in the past. Some hedgehogs do seem to like to snuggle up to their human companions, while others might be shyer or simply prefer exploring and moving about over sitting still and cuddling.
All animals require time and commitment and a pet should never be purchased on a whim. I'm happy to report, though, that hedgehogs ARE a low maintenance pet. Expect to spend about fifteen minutes to a half hour per week cleaning your hedgehogs' cage, food bowl, water bottle, wheel and other toys.
Long-term elevated stress levels, as in humans, can have serious physiological consequences for hedgehogs. The higher level of stress shows that being handled and placed in captivity can cause long-term stress in the animals. This highlights the importance of periods of captivity being as short as possible.
Hedgehogs are covered with sharp spines. When frightened, they curl up in a prickly ball. During the day, they sleep like this so they are safe. They come out at night to hunt.
their ears, chin, along the edge of their quill line or skirt, belly fur or feet.
Here's how to care for one of these prickly cuties. Petting a happy hedgehog is a bit like affectionately stroking a bristly hairbrush. Attempting to pet an upset hedgehog is more like trying to soothe a wriggly cactus of doom.
Vocalizations. Your hedgehog can make a variety of noises. Chirping, whistling and purring usually means that the hedgehog feels safe and content. A puffed up hedgehog that is snorting, hissing or clicking is frightened or aggravated.
Sometimes hedgehogs become grumpy when they don't feel good, so make note of any possible symptoms and consider taking your hedgie to a qualified exotic animal vet. A good warning sign would be a change in your hedgie's eating and drinking habits.
Aside from health issues, one reason a hedgehog might stop running is if they are overweight. It's more difficult to run with added weight. And some hedgies will give up their night-time jogging routine. It's also possible for a hedgehog to stop running out of boredom.
Hedgehogs are nocturnal, meaning they sleep during the day and are active at night. They also make sure to hide themselves away in their nest when they're resting, to avoid disturbance and predation. For these reasons, sleeping and resting aren't behaviours we're likely to see a lot in the garden!
We recommend handling your hedgehog for at least half an hour a day.
Recommended Home for Hedgehogs
House your hedgehog in an area that you spend the most amount of time in–like your living room or bedroom so that they can spend time with you. Their home should not be in direct sunlight or in a drafty area. Optimal temperature is between 70 F-85 F; hedgehogs can overheat over 85 F.