Behaviors
Hedgehogs of the more temperate or desert climates do dig, making burrows, especially under rock piles and stumps. Hedgehogs in more constant climates simply shelter under logs and brush piles. Hedgehogs practice a behavior called anointing. They lick and smack their saliva into a froth and then lick it in under their spines. There are a number of theories as to why hedgehogs (and similar animals such as tenrecs) anoint: 1.) Some insectivores have a poisonous saliva and perhaps it acts as an irritant, making them even less tasteful, especially to predators that get past the spines. They have been witnessed rubbing on toads, which would have the same effect. 2.) Anointing is often triggered by pungent smells and the salivary froth often includes the chewing of the pungent item (items such as cigarette butts, leather, creosote, glue and toad skin). The use of these strong tasting substances in the anointing may help to eliminate parasites. Hedgehogs are notoriously plagued by a wide variety of parasites. 3.) Anointing most often takes place during the breeding season and the anointing odors may be sexual messages and attractants.
You will want to choose a single hedgehog since they are solitary and don’t normally like to share a cage. Never buy a male and female to be placed in the same cage unless you intend to breed! Hedgehogs are ready to breed as early as 8 weeks and females should never be bred before 5 months, so be careful! Both male and female hedgehogs make equally good pets so this decision is entirely your own. You can readily tell a boy from a girl. If the hedgehog is tame and friendly, gently roll it over and look at the area closest to the tail. A female's genitals are immediately next to the anus, while the male's penis sheath, or "belly button" is farther up the tummy. The distance between the anus and belly button will be approximately 1/2 inch on a six week old male hoglet. However, this distance can increase to as much as an inch or more once it fully matures. |
Hedgehogs snuffle and buzz through much of their activity. The snuffles become hisses as the hedgehog becomes uneasy. When rolled into a ball in defense, the hissing becomes a sort of chuffing, accompanied by shuddering and jerking of the body, especially when touched. The jerking will drive spines into the skin of the unsuspecting. 
