Can you legally keep a hedgehog as a pet?
Different countries have different laws about keeping hedgehogs, but in the United States you can legally own a pet hedgehog in all states except Georgia, Hawaii, California, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., and five New York City boroughs.
How do you tame a hedgehog?
One of the best ways to win your hedgehog’s trust and affection is to use treats that it will love and want more of. Since hedgehogs are insectivores (insect eaters) in the wild, freeze-dried crickets and mealworms are a great treat to use while you’re taming your hedgehog.
Can you have a pet hedgehog with cats?
Once introduced, hedgehogs and cats can live together. Most cats will investigate a hedgehog, but its quills will keep a curious feline at a respectful distance. Any interaction between them should be monitored. Hedgehogs won’t give cats fleas because their fleas are species-specific.
What states is it legal to have a pet hedgehog?
Hedgehogs are legal in all of New England and most of the United States. Unfortunately, hedgehogs are still illegal or restricted in: California. Georgia.
Why you shouldn’t get a hedgehog?
Some regions have banned the practice of keeping hedgehogs, as some carry the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease. They can also transmit salmonella bacteria as well as viral and fungal diseases, and their sharp spines can puncture skin and cause infections.
Are hedgehogs smelly?
Luckily, hedgehogs are pretty odor-free. If you remove any environmental factors that might cause them to smell, you shouldn’t smell your hedgehog at all.
How much does a hedgehog cost?
How Much Does a Hedgehog Cost? The average cost to buy a hedgehog can run between $100 to $300. The cost will depend on the age of the hedgehog, how friendly they are, and their coloring. The cheapest hedgehogs will be either salt and pepper or cinnamon and “pinto” hedgies will be in the mid-price range.
Why is my hedgehog hissing at me?
When you find a hedgehog hissing or huffing at you, most people will tell you that it is angry. But in fact, they are actually more afraid or stressed than angry.
Do hedgehogs bite?
However, you should try to use gloves when handling a hedgehog for your own health and safety. Hedgehogs can bite you, but very rarely will that happen. This usually happens when they are young and think your fingers are going to feed them (if they have been fed via a syringe as they had no mother).
Why are hedgehogs illegal?
Nevertheless, the quills can still penetrate skin and hedgehogs can transmit diseases such as ringworm and salmonella to humans. Like ferrets, however, the main reason hedgehogs are illegal in California, however, is due to the risk escaped and abandoned hedgehogs pose to native wildlife.
Is it better to own a male or female hedgehog?
The female hedgehog, known as a sow, will have the same personality and character as the male. Females are known to better cohabitate than males, meaning they prefer to have a cage mate. Unlike the male, female hedgehogs do quite well being caged with other females.
