Reprinted from BEST FRIENDS MAGAZINE March/April 2003
members & pets
and wheels require diligent daily
cleaning. When stressed or ill, they con-
tract mites relatively easily. Veterinary bills
are generally higher for exotic animals, and
many people have difficulty finding a vet
who has experience in treating hedgehogs.
They can live up to eight years with proper
diet and exercise, so parents should con-
sider what will happen when Billy Jr. tran-
scends the terrible teens and moves away
to college. And if a family adopts a hedge-
hog for a child, parents must absolutely be
the primary caregivers, overseeing a child’s
involvement.
But for those who are game to take on
the responsibility of proper care, an
adopted hedgehog can be a delightful pet.
You’ll have to forgive their lingering wild
traits since they’ve only been domesticated
for about 10 years. But like all animals,
hedgies have individual personalities.
Many love to snuggle, curling up around a
warm neck or in the crook of an arm. And
then there are the budding Olympic ath-
lete hedgies: those that just can’t sit still
and will careen around the house, climb-
ing on anything that’s climbable, and roam-
ing from room to room. Some love to be
picked up, and the moment you enter a
room will walk straight into your hand,
while others are a bit grumpy and prefer a
more hermetic lifestyle. You can tell that a
hedgehog is scared by the way it rolls into
a ball to protect itself.
Adopting the right hedgehog for you is
just as important as adopting the right cat
or dog. The Hedgehog Welfare Society is
the perfect place to start if you’re thinking
of giving a hedgehog a home. They have
been rescuing abandoned hedgehogs and
working to re-home them with families
who are more educated in their care. The
group has a network of rescuers through-
out the U.S. and Canada, along with relay
teams that can help transport hedgehogs
to their new adoptive homes, and plenty
of literature and support about how to make
you and your hedgehog very happy.
If you think you might be