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It’s been claimed that no other exotic animal has caught the eye of the general public like the pet hedgehog has. Their pricks, friendly and curious nature, as well as that ever-smiling expression have endeared them to millions of confessed hedgehog lovers around the planet.
Those in the United Kingdom, Europe and parts of Africa have known for a while about the hedgehogs’ charm. UK writer and illustrator, Beatrix Potter, though most renowned for her story of Peter Rabbit, also wrote the excellent story of a hedgehog named “Mrs.
Tiggy-winkle”, a matronly washerwoman. A UK wildlife hospital devoted to rescuing sick and hurt hedgehogs is even named after this pleasant personality. The interest in hedgehogs does not end there, though . Till lately, these noteworthy little animals were nearly unknown in North America. But now, thanks to the ground-breaking efforts of breeders, the African Midget Hedgehog is now freely available and can be found in the houses of thousands of content pet owners. “But why,” you can ask, “is there such an interest in hedgehogs as pets?” Besides having a relaxed and funny nature, hedgehogs readily lend themselves to just about anybody’s lifestyle and schedule. Being diurnal ( awake parts of both day and night ) just like house pussies, almost everybody can find a time of day in which to enjoy them. They don’t need a large amount of room in which to live and their diet requirements are really easy to meet and, since they are solitary animals by nature they neither need nor require the friendship of another animal. Unlike hamsters, Guinea Pigs and other little rodents, pet hedgehogs don’t give off any discernible odour and they’re simply litter trained. They live much longer than rodents, too. With the right care and diet, your pet can live to be four - 7 years of age. Add to all of this the fact that they need no immunization shots and are very illness resistant and you can see why so many folks consider hedgehogs to be the ideal pet.
They have wonderful small raccoon-like faces, set with beady small black eyes and tiny pointy noses that appear to twitch consistently, checking out the different odours of the room. Depending on the color variation that you select, their tiny white faces might or might not have a mask.
Though not related to the porcupine, they’re often mistaken for them thanks to the quills that cover their backs. The likeness ends there since these quills are not barbed or virtually as sharp and remain attached to their bodies. Their small white tummies, on the other hand, are very soft and are covered with short, white hair. When scared, they can roll up into a tight ball and look much like a sea urchin. They’ve a short, stubby tail, but this isn’t seen since they keep it tucked close up their bodies. With their tiny legs and round bodies, it’s a real sight to see them scurry across the floor.
Here are some hedgehog pictures:
