hedgehogs

[einsteinsdog]

Do people keep hedgehogs as pets?

[andy hughes]

Unlikely. They can't be trained, the usually have massive infestations of fleas, you can't cuddle them, and they wander off at a moment's notice.

[woofgang]

I encourage them in my garden, but wouldn't call them pets

[funnywebsite]

I was reading about hedehogs yesterday and it said they are roamers so won't stay in the same garden for very long. I had one in my garden and I didn't know how it got in because I have a 6 ft fence all around and it goes all the way to the ground with only about 1" gap in places. Anyway I came home one day and something had made an awful mess digging itself out of the garden under my gate. I reckon it was the hedgehog. I got the blame because I accidentally watered him in the summertime, I didn't see him sleeping under a bush in my garden.

[{Dakota}]

But ther *are* cute though!

[Morgus]

As In A Pickle says.. never feed them bread or milk. Dog food is good or cat food (as long as it's the non-fishy variety). And a shallow saucer of fresh water is appreciated as they drink a fair bit.

I doubt they'd make good pets for all the reasons already mentioned as they usually have a 'round' that covers as many 11 gardens. It would be immensely cruel to confine one to a hutch or even to one garden.

But that's not to say you can't buy a hedgehog house for them to live in as a base. There are many types of house available and these days gardens are far too neat and tidy to supply any natural hidey holes for them to live in. Piles of old unmoved logs, unmowed 'wild' areas and compost heaps are all ideal but are rare in these days of patios, decking and water-features.

[orange-gnome]

Hi, I just wanted to add that I have hand raised many a hedgehog from new born and they are great when they are teeny they come out to be fed, seem to enjoy being handled or at least don't mind it and generally are very friendly little critters then they get to a certain age and it's like their wildness kicks in or something...they get roll up in a ball and hiss when they hear you coming and get very jumpy. They just don't like humans after a certain age.
Besides.....their poo absolutely STINKS!!!!!

[einsteinsdog]

I once saw an advert from canada saying hedgehogs make good pets but maybe it never caught on! Or maybe it was a hoax