What is a Hedgehog?

There are two main species of hedgehogs. The European hedgehog, and the African Pygmy hedgehog. In this section you will read about the African Pygmy hedgehog, as the European hedgehog is illegal in the United States. Hedgehogs are insectivores, most closely related to shrews, moon rats, mole rats, and tenrecs.  Pygmy hedgehogs aren’t actually pygmies, but they are smaller than European hedgehogs. Their weight can vary from only a few ounces to 30 ounces, but they will usually weigh about 15. When balled up, this makes them about the size of a baseball, maybe a little bigger. Hedgehogs are not native to North America. They only ones available in the U.S. originally came from Africa about 15 years ago.

Contrary to popular belief, hedgehogs are not related to the porcupine. They both have quills, but that is all they have in common. When touched, porcupine quills come out and stick into whatever touched them. Hedgehog quills stay attached to the hedgehog except during quilling.