Northern Plains Hedgehogs
How to handle your hedgehog
Many new hedgehog owners are nervous about handling their new family member. Follow these suggestions, and soon you and your hedgie will be best friends forever!
1. Start in the evening, when it gets dark, and your hedgehog is likely to be awake.
2. Allow your hedgehog to sniff your hand, so that he/she will recognize you.
3. Place your hands palm side up on either side of the hedgehog. If necessary, you can gently corner your hedgehog in it's cage.
4. Gently push hands under hedgehog. You can even scoop up a bit of bedding to protect your hands a bit more if you are nervous.
5. Cup hands and lift hedgehog cradled in your hands. Keep your fingers together and out of the way if your hedgehog rolls into a ball.
6. Your hedgehog may huff or roll into a ball. It's okay to scoop him or her up if she has rolled into a ball.
7. Hold your hedgehog and try cradling your hedgie on one hand or forearm and placing the other hand gently over his or her back for security. Most will unroll shortly and begin exploring.
8. Feel free to resort to bribery if necessary. If your hedgehog rolls, offer a treat such as a tasty mealworm as soon as he or she unrolls. Your hedgehog will probably decide quickly that being picked up is a good thing!
9. Once your hedgehog is out, allow it to explore your hands and lap at his orher own pace.
10. A relaxed hedgehog lays down its spines, and at this point you can try petting him or her (in the direction the spines lay, of course).
11. Offer treats intermittently while handling your hedgehog, and your pet will likely learn to look forward to handling.
Other Handling Tips
1. Hedgehogs will recognize you by smell. Wearing gloves will only confuse your hedgehog; hand lotion or heavy perfumes may confuse the hedgehogas well. Placing a worn t-shirt in their cage may familiarize them with your scent.
2. If necessary, a thick towel can be used to pick up a a stubborn hedgehog at first, rather than gloves.
3. Do not grab your hedgehog from above (ouch) or hold it in such a way that a finger could get trapped by the hedgehog rolling into a ball (big ouch!).
4. Remember the spines are not barbed nor do they come out like porcupine quills -- if you do get poked it will be a bit painful but not terrible, so try not to be nervous.
Depending on your hedgehogs' personality, there are different ways to spend time with them. Nervous or laid back hedgehogs will likely get most benefit from their daily handling by being held while you are sitting quietly, such as while watching tv, playing on the computer, or reading a book. Providing these hedgehogs with a blanket or hedgie-bag to snuggle in while on your lap may help increase their comfort levels. If you have an active wiggly hedgehog, trying to sit quietly with them is not very productive, and may in fact make your hedgehog more grumpy. These hedgehogs benefit most from having the ability to use their owner as a human jungle gym, with the owner sitting or lying on the floor of a small room that has been hedgehog proofed, and allowing the hedgehog to actively explore the floor and climb on your body. Almost all hedgehogs benefit from daily handling, even if the handling is as short as just picking your hedgehog up for a couple of minutes until they start relaxing, and then placing them back into their cage. Be aware that hedgehogs, especially the ones who sit quietly on your lap, may give you some signs that they are wanting to go back to the cage. These signs can include sudden restlessness or irritability. If you notice these signs, it is a good idea to return your hedgehog to the cage. They may be hungry, thirsty, or needing a moment to go to the bathroom.
Occasionally hedgehogs will bite. Most of these bites are actually taste nips, exploring some taste or smell that is on your skin. These are typically a quick nip, usually accompanied by a few licks, and often followed by self annointing. Make sure to wash your hands very thoroughly before handling your hedgehog to reduce the chances of these bites. Once and a while though, hedgehogs can bite out of irritation. These are typically sudden bites, with the hedgehog holding onto your skin firmly. Irritation bites are NOT accompanied by licking. If your hedgehog bites, do NOT put them back in the cage right away. This will train them to bite when they are ready to go back to their beds. If possible, sit still while the hedgehog is biting you until they let go on their own. You do not want to jerk, as this can cause more injury to you and can hurt your hedgehog's teeth. Some people will recommend blowing on the hedgehog's face, running water over your hedgehog, or other discouragement techniques when your hedgehog bites. I don't encourage this for a single biting episode, frequently just refusing to reward their behavior with a return to their cage is enough to convince your hedgehog that biting is not worth while.
