Handling
- Careful handling is a necessity.
- Most hedgehogs do not particularly like to be cuddled, but most will allow themselves to be picked up and will readily climb over their people.
- Tame hedgehogs by handling gently and frequently, gently scooping up the hedgehog around the sides. If you get your hedgie from a good breeder who has been handling them, your hedgehog will most likely be quite tame already.
- Initially, your hedgehog may curl into a ball when you try to pick him or her up. However, if you just cradle the ball of hedgehog in your hands the spines do not really hurt, and usually the hedgehog will unroll within a few minutes and start exploring once it realizes you mean no harm. Be careful the hedgehog does not manage to coil into a ball over one of your fingers though - this is extremely painful!
- If your hedgehog is really resistant to handling at first, a thick towel should be all you need to be able to pick him or her up.
- When starting out with a new hedgie, try to practice handling at times the hedgehog is awake (e.g. early evening) as a sleepy hedgehog will understandable be more grumpy.
- You can also try hand feeding favorite treats such as mealworms to gain the trust of your hedgehog.
- For more detailed steps, see "How to Handle a Hedgehog."
Self Anointing
- Hedgehogs have a remarkable habit called "self-anointing" which can be somewhat startling the first time an owner sees it happening. Particular smells seem to send the hedgehog into a flurry contortions as it starts to salivate profusely and spread the saliva over its back. No one is entirely sure why hedgehogs do this and some seem more prone to it than others, but it is not a cause for concern.