HedgehogsBy Craig Sernotti Hedgehogs have only become part of
the pet trade within the last 20 years or so. Fascinating,
curious, and downright adorable, this exotic small animal makes
a great pet for the right person. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and so
are active at night; however, some species are active during the
day. They are naturally shy and nervous because they are hunted
as prey in the wild. Males should be kept singly—if you want to
keep a pair, stick with females only. Depending on the species,
if taken care of properly, hedgehogs can live for up to ten
years in captivity. Hedgehogs are considered an exotic pet, so
keeping one may not be legal in your state. Check with your
local government to see if you are allowed to keep one before
purchasing this animal. What About Those Quills?Hedgehogs are
covered with spines, not quills—a porcupine has quills. The
quills serve as a defense mechanism—if a hedgehog feels
threatened, he will roll up into a ball. What animal would want
to eat a ball of prickly spine