Talk:Hedgehog

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This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 24 August 2020 and 9 December 2020. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Ivanvanek.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 22:16, 17 January 2022 (UTC)

Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 15 January 2020 and 6 May 2020. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Swyndyl. Peer reviewers: SeanKearns2001, JazzerJazzie.

Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT (talk) 23:16, 16 January 2022 (UTC)

In classical and popular culture

What? No mention of "Alice in Wonderland" (specificallly, "The Queen's Croquet Ground")? — Preceding unsigned comment added by KevinCole (talk • contribs) 03:15, 27 January 2019 (UTC)

7000 Quills

Its refered that they have 7000. Having seen a few of the New Zealand varirity, i can't picture any hog having more then about 1000. I'd expect it'd have to be a fine coat of fur to achieve anywhere near 7000. The referance given wasn't convincing either. --60.234.222.222 (talk) 17:15, 14 May 2010 (UTC)

Vandalism

What is this? "Chrudiana is the most co^{Superscript text}mmen specimen and is also beleived to be the most gourgus out of all, with skuxx eyes and lushious lips dont underestimate her looks..." Could someone please remove it? Thanks.

This article is on Wikipedia. That means that you can remove vandalism. Just click "edit this page" when reading the article. --Kainaw ^(talk) 15:20, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

I am not one to encourage vandalism, but this has me rolling on the floor in laughter (aka rofl) "A hedgehog is a government conspiracy and they don't exist. They are covered up with the help of NASA and GPS companies. Hedgehogs aren't real but just a clever fabrication to divert the publics attention from the earths oil and greenhouse gas crisis." this and the bit about hedgehogs living in trees... I don't know why this is such a targeted article for vandals, and I'll start trying to help... but at least it's clever! Orbframe 09:01, 19 February 2007 (UTC) The bot says that it has replaced the "cheese and ricew", but for some reason it still appears on my screen. Some help here? (And how do you sign these things?)128.208.60.88 (talk) 00:41, 7 February 2008 (UTC) Ahh... I found the problem. Apparantly in the source for this page (not the one you can access through the "edit" tab, but the actual HTML source) still has the only content on the screen to be "cheese and ricew". Can somebody change this? 128.208.60.88 (talk) 00:44, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

During high load times, it can take Wikipedia a few minutes to catch up with the latest edits. That is all that happened. -- kainaw™ 00:46, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Ok, it's protected. But all the page? I'd like to add a link for the Portuguese version (Ouriço) and I can't, even if I don't need to access the main content... (93.95.239.82 (talk) 07:18, 18 March 2011 (UTC))

hedgehogivorous?

Why is it an "unlikely claim"? I've often heard that hedgehogs were edible, and certainly people have been known to eat weirder animals. Mhari 02:15, 28 January 2006 (UTC)

Sorry; I wasn't very clear. It does seem reasonable that hedgehogs would be edible. I was thinking about the later part of that edit, where it said you could fillet one by coating it in plaster, baking it, and then smashing the plaster. I did a google search on "hedgehog" and "plaster" and didn't immediately see anything relevant, although I admit I didn't look very hard. If you suspect the plaster cooking thing might be a real practice, I'll welcome a revert of my edit. --Allen 02:25, 28 January 2006 (UTC)

Actually, this is supposed to be a Gypsy recipe: hedgehog baked in clay (http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cookbook:Hedgehog, and this is not the only source - google (gypsy hedgehog clay) and you'll find more), so I will revert the edit to the older version. --Cyberodin 10:49, 28 January 2006

It is also the African method of cooking hedgehogs. Coat them with mud, cook, break away the baked clay and eat. --Kainaw ^(talk) 17:51, 28 January 2006 (UTC)

That's very cool. Thanks for correcting me. I'd hate for that to have been left out of the article, now that I know. I'm changing the wording a bit, though; I think Roma is a better word to use than gypsy. Also, I couldn't find anything in the google references about the clay/plaster helping remove the bones as well as the spines, leaving only meat. People talk about the spines, and that I can see, but the bones I don't get. But I'm not going to change that, because at this point I'm willing to entertain just about any claim relating to hedgehogivory. --Allen 03:13, 29 January 2006 (UTC)

I don't know about the bones. As for the quills, this method also makes them easy to get as the quills were used as tools. Since they are hollow, they can hold ink as well as a feather. They are sharp, so they can used as a needle. If the sharp end is snipped, they make pretty bead-like things. Personally, I keep them in a little jar. After three hedgehogs, two going through the adolecent quilling, I have a lot of them (many pulled out of the bottom of my feet). --Kainaw ^(talk) 03:35, 29 January 2006 (UTC)

who put that there were hedgehog chips in england on this article? because it was porcupine, not hedgehog... i've had them, they're quite good actually —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.5.1.167 (talk) 21:12, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

European hedgehog removal

OK, I wrote a couple of stubs on hedgehogs here and I was wondering if it would be fair enough to "demote" European Hedgehog even more in this article and write on geographical variety of hedgehogs or something, instead of focusing solely on European hedgehog.

When the European Hedgehog article first split, I suggested it be put back in this article because it was such a short article. My suggestion went up for vote on Articles for Deletion and the vote was to keep it. I feel that it should contain information specifically about European hedgehogs (see the Domesticated hedgehog article for example), or is should be part of the main article. Kainaw 19:09, 26 August 2005 (UTC)

Pest Control

According the article, the hedgehog was introduced as pest control in Wales and New Zealand. In both areas, it has become a pest itself. Are there any cases where the introduction of the hedgehog as pest control worked - meaning that the hedgehog did not become a pest? I think it would be clearer to put in 'history' that the introduction of hedgehogs for pest control in (list of countries) has not worked well because the hedgehog itself has become a pest. Kainaw 14:52, 8 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I am working on a new section The Hedgehogs as Pest Control to emphasize usage of the hedgehog as pest control. In areas where it is indigenous, it has been adopted as a cute form of pest control. In areas where it has been artificially introduced, it has become a pest itself. Kainaw 12:54, 18 Oct 2004 (UTC)

I corrected the original reference of 'Scotland' to 'the islands of Scotland'. European hedgehogs are indigenous to Scotland, but not all of its islands. scruss 17:56, 6 Dec 2004 (UTC)

Reorganization

I reorganized this article. Initially it only contained information on the European hedgehog. The Domesticated hedgehog was added as a secondary section. Both are very similar and there are even other species of hedgehogs. So, I made the initial article generally about all hedgehogs. Then, I made the Eurpoean section about specific European hedgehog qualities. I made the Domestic section about specific domestic qualities. I also added a history section to mention Hedgehog Day and the old term 'urchin' Kainaw 20:08, 26 Jul 2004 (UTC)

External Links

I made an edit that I'm sure will anger a small group of people, but I feel it is justified. The edit was splitting the EXTERNAL LINKS section of Domesticated Hedgehogs into two lists. The first list contains links to sites owned and operated by those who do not breed or sell hedgehogs. The second list is for hedgehog breeders, understanding that most hedgehog breeder sites also contain information about hedgehogs.

Why do this? There are many reasons, all very small. Added up, I think it makes sense. First, Wikipedia is for information, not marketing. Putting information above marketing seems fair to me. However, I feel you should still be able to add a link to your commercial venture as long as it is on topic. In this case, adding a link to a hedgehog breeder is on topic.

Not only are breeders on topic, I think that separating them is good because it makes it quick and easy for a web surfer to find the breeder links and click on one without going through websites that only contain information.

Finally, I listed all of the links in alphabetical order in order to avoid giving precedence to any specific website. I know that when money is involved, it is important to get on top.

Eating Fame?

"If it ever has been found eating poultry or fame". What does "eating fame" mean? -phma

Well, we really should ask the editors of the 1881 Household Cyclopedia, but if I had to guess, I would guess it's a typo for "game." Someone -- meaning "not me" -- really should replace the text with something a little more cyclopedic and a little less twee. --the Epopt

Done. And here's the Cyclopedia version in case there's more info to be taken from it. -- Tarquin 16:33 Jan 7, 2003 (UTC)

From the 1881 Household Cyclopedia

This little animal, the object of persecution, not only to little boys but to the farmer and gamekeeper, on account of its supposed mischievous propensities, is in fact one which the agriculturist should endeavor to preserve, as it is the most effectual destroyer of snails, worms, and insects, on which it almost entirely subsists. A garden in which a hedgehog is kept, will, in the course of two or three nights, be entirely freed from slugs; and that enemy to fruit, the millipede, is a favorite food to him. London gardeners are so aware of this, as often to purchase hedgehogs to put in their grounds. If it ever has been found eating poultry or fame, as has by some been asserted, they must previously have been killed by rats, weasels, or some more ferocious animal than the hedgehog, whose habits are those of gentleness and timidity, who is not formed for attack, and whose sole mode of defense is rolling itself up in a ball and opposing its strong prickles to the enemy. This statement is given in the hope of rescuing a harmless and useful creature from the general abhorrence in which it is held, and the unmerciful treatment it meets with.

Certainly eats Poultry

I'm writing this having just discovered 1 half eaten, very dead, chicken, seven of its worried siblings and 1 hedgehog in the poultry coop at the bottom of my garden. I'm guessing that the hedgehog found its way into the coop during the day when the door was open. Then when we shut the hens in this evening, Fuzzy was in there with them. Certainly he was all gentleness and timidity when I picked him up in order to evict him, but I find the evidence against him in this case overwhelming. Richard86.136.226.76 (talk) 22:25, 11 November 2008 (UTC)

Diet in Captivity

I do not have a lot of experience personally with hedgehogs. However, I would find it extremely useful for prospective hedgehog owners if the article went into more detail about the hedgehogs diet in captivity. I know there are multiple available commercial feeds and freeze dried insects available.Infinite Writers (talk) 01:40, 9 September 2022 (UTC)

Image with copy

Hello, I'm searching a image for use in es:Erizo común (Hedgehog in Spanish), but I see that this image have copyright (I see in commons), any image without copy? es:User:Patxi Aguado

The German version of the article has one which is hosted from the Commons (commons:Image:Igel01.jpg) and is tagged as GFDL. (It's new! I'm going to put it here too) Others: commons:Image:Igel.JPG commons:Image:Hedgehog.jpg --Andrew 08:12, Mar 1, 2005 (UTC)

Ferret predator dispute

The article has a disclaimer that someone disputes the accuracy of the statement about ferrets being predators. In this argument, the word predator is referring to an animal that hunts and eats other animals. Simply go to the Ferret article and you can see that they are carnivorous - meaning, they eat other animals. One of the animals they have been known (in domesticated species and in New Zealand) is the hedgehog - primary large adult hedgehogs that can no longer roll into a complete ball. So, what is the dispute? The disclaimer directs people to this talk page, but there is no counter-claim. If none is made, I will remove the dispute. Kainaw 17:01, 13 August 2005 (UTC)

Toxin Resistance

I'm not exactly a hedgehog aficionado, but I've heard a lot about their alleged resistance to toxins - supposedly they're capable of enduring levels of toxins that would be harmful if not fatal to humans. Is there any truth to this?

Yes, hedgehogs are highly resistant to many toxins (as are weasels and ferrets). However, they are not resistant to common pest poisons (rat poisons, bug sprays, etc). So, I do want to give the impression that you can bug-bomb a house with a hedgehog in it and the hedgehog will be fine.

I have heard from multiple sources that a heart drug was tested on hedgehogs and it was a miracle drug. It lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, increased oxygen levels, and repaired much of the fatty liver disease. When tested on rats, the medicine was fatal at very low doses.

I recently learned from a research doctor that many statins were derived from a South American's snake venom. The initial research on the venom was done on hedgehogs because they have such bad cholesterol levels. I asked if the statins turned out to be fatal and all he knew is that the initial hedgehog study was a great success, but it took another 10 years for the drugs to get to human testing. Kainaw 22:59, 2 November 2005 (UTC)

I'm not sure if we should add anything about this to the wikipedia entry without having some reliable source we can check it against.

As for toxin resistance, it is very easy to find many websites that make such a claim. It is well known that hedgehogs can easily consume many poisonous animals. I remember a study being done to derive the Anti-Toxin chemicals from opossums (which are yet another creature who is highly resistant to toxins). The problem is that most people don't know the difference between toxins and poisons. So, they assume they can spread rat poison around their yard and the hedgehogs won't be bothered. Then, when the hedgehogs turn up dead, they say that they were told the hedgehogs couldn't be poisoned.

As for the medical studies, it is next to impossible to find research on hedgehogs. The word "hedgehog" is used extensively in stem cell research and neurology (among other things). So, any article you find about medical studies and hedgehogs is most likely not about the little animal but about some cell/chemical called a hedgehog. Kainaw 20:06, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

I found a few good sites by searching for Erinaceinae instead of hedgehog:

http://ca.expasy.org/uniprot/P54249

Sonic the Hedgehog

I think that decision to put the disputable fact that Sonic the Hedgehog is the most famous hedgehog is questionable at best. There is a whole category of fictional hedgehogs for the fans of the Sega series, and, although we may write something about the influence of hedgehogs on culture (and I believe such section should contain more than one fact), the whole idea has nothing to do with history.

There is a whole category of hedgehogs, but he's the well-known one, the one the series is named after.

...and we have a whole article about him. What's more, writing "Sonic the hedgehog is a well-known hedgehog" in a hedgehog article is not even close to Trivia. It's as if I wrote "Hedgehog appears in a well-known book "The Hare and the Hedgehog". OK, so what? What information does that fact hold? It's pretty obvious to anyone that Sonic the Hedgehog is a hedgehog, don't you think?Cyberodin

True, it's in his name, for crying out loud... --Luigifan 03:06, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

I've strongly considered making a section listing famous fictional hedgehogs. I just haven't had the time. I don't plan to describe them in detail, just have a list of names that link to the article for the hedgehog's name. --Kainaw ^(talk) 13:50, 6 December 2005 (UTC)

I'd even say we make a whole article about hedgehog in culture. However, to be frank, I'd rather make it a separate article and keep Hedgehog as biological as possible to keep the spirit of similar entries for different animals. Cyberodin

It wouldn't be obvious to people who have never heard of Sonic that he's a hedgehog. How much can we write on the hedgehog in culture? In any case, every page Foo where there exists a Foo in Culture page, there is a paragraph on Foo talking about Foo in Culture, right below the Main Page: Foo in Culture link.--Prosfilaes 21:35, 6 December 2005 (UTC)

I've never been opposed to creating a separate article. I've personally split off separate articles on many occasions. I justify it by showing that there are at least three things that the new article can go into detail about htat are not in the main article. So far, we have only discussed Sonic. I know there is a very popular German board game about hedgehogs (called somthing like Hurry Hedgehog). The lady who makes books that are almost all artwork has had a few that focus on a hedgehog (The Hat is one of them if I remember correctly). So, a new article could be created in which there are subsections: Hedgehogs in games, hedgehogs in books, hedgehogs in film (has there been a hedgehog in any movie?). --Kainaw ^(talk) 21:43, 6 December 2005 (UTC)

"The lady who makes books that are almost all artwork" -- Jan Brett? Mhari 19:09, 8 December 2005 (UTC)

The first time I saw Sonic I had no idea he was supposed to be a hedgehog, so it isn't necessarily obvious. Anyway, I think it's worth a mention here, he isn't necessarily the most famous (I'm the one who added that bit, but I only said "well-known", someone else must have changed it to "most famous") but he's a very popular video game character, and he is relevant to the article, being a hedgehog. But you can remove it if you want, it's not like I'll lose sleep over it. Yeltensic42.618 00:48, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

Come on. He runs at high speed, rolls even faster, and lives to collect as many gold rings as possible. Isn't that what all hedgehogs do? --Kainaw ^(talk) 00:57, 9 December 2005 (UTC)

So now we remove Sonic to a culture page but leave Jan Brett and the rest of the group here? This feels like personal dislike for Sonic now.--Prosfilaes 22:00, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

It's because we hate him for being blue.

I moved the Jan Brett bit and some other bits that seemed more "culture" than "trivia". Mhari 23:35, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

Didn't have time to remove everything yesterday, but yes, the intention was to move the whole sectionCyberodin

There should still be a short summary on the topic though then leave the rest to the main article. --Chroniclev 22:21, 13 December 2005 (UTC)

Honestly, I'm an outside observer here. I was looking up anteater, made my way of to echidna and then suddenly I'm reading about hedgehogs. But that's besides the point. I was reading around and thinking "hmmm, there should be SOMETHING about Sonic in here...." At least a mention. I mean, he is without question a notable character and I'd say he brings a bit of notoriety to the hedgehog, which many may consider an otherwise obscure species of animal. I just think Sonic should, once again, at the very least be mentioned in some capacity. Dahumorist (talk) 01:59, 8 December 2008 (UTC)

Can't tell if trolling or just in denial. Sonic being the most famous hedgehog is in no way a "disputable fact"; he's the most well-known fictional hedgehog ever created and anyone with common sense will agree with that statement. Name a single hedgehog who's more popular. Just a single one. Go ahead. - 190.231.18.37 (talk) 20:22, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Hedgehog sex

In case anybody else was wondering how they manage to mate without killing each other, this site [1] reveals the truth: the female just makes sure the spikes lie flat.

I'm still wondering whether accidents can happen, though. After all, there's a reason the hedgehog's dilemma is refered to as such. -- Ashmodai 15:25, 14 February 2006 (UTC)

Most animals mate rather quickly. A male hedgehog spends time safely mounting the female, but is then finished and off without much risk of any kind. --Kainaw ^(talk) 14:59, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

Male hedgehogs have their penises located on their stomach, don't they?--Ryushusupercat (talk) 17:18, 26 May 2010 (UTC)

Correct. It is often mistaken for an "outie" bellybutton. -- kainaw™ 19:01, 26 May 2010 (UTC)

I have occasionally come across hedgehogs mating late in the evening in spring. They seem to take a very long time over it, and are extremely noisy. This is original research of course. Ef80 (talk) 13:33, 3 January 2011 (UTC)

Parasites and predators

So, I have a couple of points that are recollections, but I lack sources. First, I understand that foxes will roll hedgehogs on their backs, urinate on the opening of the hedgehog ball; thus the hedgehog must unroll or suffocate. Any truth to that one?

Also, as is typical for parasites and hosts, I understand that there is a hedgehog flea, and further that when hedgehogs were brought to New Zealand, they were brought without fleas. Is there support for that one? I do remember from childhood that when hedgehogs wandered into my back garden, and I kept them, the first necessity was flea powder to remove the very abundant fleas.

Perhaps these points would be interesting in the trivia section; cheers!Dmccabe 03:34, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

I am wondering if Hedgehogs carry ring worm or is that an old wive's tail? Do they carry any other diseases that are contagious to man or other animals such as cats and dogs? Thank you.(~ ~ ~ ~ )

The story of urinating on a rolled hedgehog most likely game from a very old Roman book by Pliny in which he exlains that a rolled hedgehog will curl into a ball and, if you roll it over to open it, will urinate on itself to ruin its pelt. As for fleas, Hedgehogs are more prone to mites, but do get fleas. They do not offer much of a home to hair-loving fleas, but skin burrowing mites have no trouble living on hedgehogs. --Kainaw ^(talk) 15:03, 25 March 2006 (UTC)

Well...I've never heard of that about foxes. But I have heard that weasels will spray musk onto a rolled hedgehog to force it to unroll. But not sure if it is true. Most sources I've seen state that hedgehogs have little to fear from foxes, but badgers can easily unroll them, unharmed by spines, with their strong claws and tough skin.61.230.72.211 04:09, 19 June 2006 (UTC)

I heard that foxes just [carefully] shove hedgehogs into puddles... --Luigifan 03:10, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

Never heard that before. Dora Nichov 13:31, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

I heard they drop them into water, usually a river or the edge of a lake. And that badgers bite through the spines. Madgenberyl 17:18, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

they don't-- sometimes hedgehogs are scared of foxes and the like, and accidentally fall into some kind of a watery grave while they're "running". 70.5.1.167 (talk) 21:15, 31 May 2008 (UTC)sagethorn

If a fox pees on a hedgehog, it isn't to make it unroll. This is an Internet myth that bounces around on "fact" websites. Foxes pee on things that interest them. Naturally, that might include a hedgehog every now and then. — Preceding unsigned comment added by StayPuft Day (talk • contribs) 17:02, 15 July 2015 (UTC)

References

Please identify this hedge hog for me

• These photos of a Hedgehog were taken in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan on 18 Apr 06.
• The hedgehog was found wandering in the desert at 2200hrs. He was kept in a pot till morning, photos taken and released unharmed deep in the desert away from habitation.
• Photo taken by User:AshLin (own work).
• Identification is required - E collaris or micropus?
• There are total three photos of the same hedgehog in Wikimedia.

AshLin 19:57, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

On the ground

Showing his paws

Showing his face

Photos by AshLin 19:57, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

That looks like a "Brandt's Hedgehog" (Hemiechinus hypomelas). They are common throughout India. Just a note: they are not domesticated at all and will bite if they feel threatened. Because you were able to pick it up easily, it may have been sick and unable to defend itself - or it may have been a rare one that likes being held. You never really know with hedgehogs. --Kainaw ^(talk) 20:48, 18 April 2006 (UTC)

vagina

in the section about copulation, it refers to the female's vagina. would that not be a cloaca? ... aa:talk 03:36, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

Correct. I will make the change - but remember, you can edit the article too. --Kainaw ^(talk) 14:58, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

Wait, wait, wait. I think that "vagina" is correct; birds have cloacas, not mammals. Mammals have penises or vaginas as their gonads. The only exceptions to that are the monotremes, which do have cloacas. So, I think you somehow got the hedgehog confused with the echidna. --Luigifan 03:12, 19 January 2007 (UTC)

umm-- eww. what are you, hedgehog experts? ucka, i was looking this up for a report, and now i'm switching animals... —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.5.1.167 (talk) 21:17, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Hm, that makes sense. The last people you would want to get advice for a report from would be 'Hedgehog Experts'. Let alone the fact that they mentioned a dirty word that made you giggle. Perfect rationalization. Gpia7r (talk) 17:58, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

Attempts to hibernate commonly fatal?

Is this vandalism? I'm removing it for the moment, because it's not cited and seems like a really odd sentence. --GenkiNeko 17:32, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

Some domesticated hedgehogs have died while hibernating. It is rare, but not uncommon for European hedgehogs to go into hibernation and then die. Hedgehogs don't pack on the pounds (or ounces in their case) to sustain hibernation. For some reason, if it gets too cold, they will try it. I don't know why. --Kainaw ^(talk) 17:35, 6 December 2006 (UTC)

Domesticated hedgehogs

"It is illegal to own a hedgehog as a pet in some U.S. states and some Canadian municipalities, and breeding licenses are required. No such restrictions exist in most European countries." I don´t know about other European countries, but in Norway you are not allowed to keep a hedgehog or any other wild animal as a pet, according to laws on wildlife protection, and I think also hygiene. I am not sure whether this includes the domesticated species or hybrids, but at least I´ve never seen a hedgehog for sale or kept captivated, and import rules for uncommon pets are rather strict, especially if they are likely to spread diseases or survive and breed in the environment if escaped from captivity. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Aruud (talk • contribs) 16:26, 8 December 2006 (UTC).

Please feel free to edit the article. While I am an expert on hedgehogs, I'm no expert on hedgehog laws. If you can find a webpage reference about Norwegian pet laws, include it after your entry with the ref tag, as in: <ref>http://the.reference.website/goes/here</ref> - then it won't be reverted quickly by someone who just doesn't know Norwegian law. --Kainaw ^(talk) 17:19, 8 December 2006 (UTC)

"It is illegal to own a hedgehog as a pet in some U.S. states" To be clear the exact states that it is illegal to own a hedgehog in are New York, California, Arizona, Georgia, Hawaii, and Maine. You can acquire a permit in order to own a hedgehog in these states. As sourced from <http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/hedgehogs-spike-popularity-pets/story?id=22652290> kolzel 10:04 6, February 2015 — Preceding undated comment added 16:09, 6 February 2015 (UTC)

It is no longer illegal to own hedgehogs in Arizona under amendments made to R12-4-406 in 2105 https://www.azgfd.com/PortalImages/files/rules/Article%204%20NFRM.pdf. Additionally, I believe the New York legislation is such that they are only illegal in the 5 boroughs, not the entire state. Hedgehog1017 (talk) 17:56, 19 January 2017 (UTC)

food

Domesticated hedgehogs - Dog and cat food is bad for hedgehogs and often causes liver damage among other things. Today, many pet stores sell hedgehog mixes that are specifically formulated for hedgehogs. I'm aware milk is a problem (as mentioned in the domesticated hedgehog article tho not here) but hadn't heard about pet food. It seems to be ok as a supplement ( sttiggywinkles ) ie when left out for garden hedgehogs. Some might regard this practice as domestication (caring for) and so might find the article misleading; I'm guessing that domesticated in the article means keeping hedgehogs indoors(?) ie something rather different. Hakluyt bean 16:52, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

Most (definately not all) dog/cat food is high in fiber and fat and low in protein. Hedgehogs are insectivores, which means that they thrive best on a diet high in fiber and protein and low in fat. Because they cannot handle the high fat content, hedgehogs who eat high fat food normally have an extremely shortened lifespan ending with cancer and fatty liver disease. It over-complicates things to say "dog food and cat food, except those that are nearly fat free and contain high amounts of protein, is bad for hedgehogs". It is much easier to make a broad claim that dog food and cat food is bad for them.

Now, why do so many books/articles/webpages claim that cat food is good for hedgehogs? Go back 20 years to the start of the current hedgehog domestication fad and people just put every type of pet food in front of the hedgehog. Cat food was preferred by the hedgehogs over dog food and bird food. So, they assumed it was good for them. By that logic, since a kid will prefer candy and ice cream to meat and vegetables, candy and ice cream must be good for them. It wasn't until the late 90s that a lot of research was done into what foods keep them the most healthy. It is not possible to eradicate previous books about keeping hedgehogs as pets, so you will continue to find old literature that claims cat food is good for them and new literature that pushes insectivore food. --Kainaw ^(talk) 17:40, 14 February 2007 (UTC)

I think maybe the issue goes to a difference between keeping indoor hedgehogs and helping along garden hedgehogs. The latter is more the practice in the British Isles, in which context pet food is an ok supplement, as current literature states. It's therefore confusing for people to read that pet food is straightforwardly bad. The consequence of that advice would be less incentive to help garden hedgehogs, and that would be unfortunate.

Most people are aware that hedgehogs are basically insect eaters. However, many householders put out a saucer of meat based pet food for their garden friends. The hedgehog will treat this as a welcome supplement to its normal diet and will not go hungry if, for some reason, the food is not put out. BHPS

Once eating, a suitable diet can consist of meat based pet food (not in gravy), cooked chicken (excluding bones), minced beef or lamb, a little bran or unsweetened moistened muesli cereal and added vitamins – like SA37. Other snacks enjoyed are banana, raisins, unsweetened crushed digestive biscuits and dry cat or hedgehog biscuits

The advice given on this site is intended for wild European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) only. BHPS :: I just think it might be a useful distinction for the article to make(?) Hakluyt bean 14:34, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

Yup, I'd agree that feeding hedgehogs cat or dog meat (or any other meats) is not a problem as they are carnivores. The problem is feeding them bread and milk per this. Wikipedia can't give advice or how-to stuff as an encyclopedia but a section on helping hedgehogs may be useful for this article. Nk.sheridan   Talk 22:23, 6 July 2008 (UTC)

but you can own a hedgehog in Quebec!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.5.1.167 (talk) 21:18, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Size

There is no mention of the size of these animals in the article at all. I had thought that they were about the size of mice, but from the picture of Brandt's Hedgehog on this page I see that some species, at least, can be rather larger. I think that the absense of information regarding their size is an omission that needs to be rectified. Hi There 09:57, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

So find the information, add it, and cite it. - UtherSRG (talk) 11:57, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Size varies greatly with the species. Pygmy hedgehogs are 4-6 inches. European hedgehogs are larger, rarely getting past 10 inches. The desert hedgehogs are normally small, but get large in captivity. All in all, they are size relative to rats much more than mice. --Kainaw ^(talk) 18:56, 15 February 2007 (UTC)

Just thought I'd mention...

I've changed part of the introductory statement that used to read as follows:

"There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to North America"

It now reads:

"There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to North America"

I changed it because there Erinaceidae is known from North America, including Litolestes, Ocajila, Parvericius and Proterix (among others). 71.217.98.158 04:40, 23 February 2007 (UTC)

Northern White-Breasted Hedgehog

I'm curious why we have a new species here. I'm yet to see it in a biology literature Cyberodin

It's listed in Mammal Species of the World, 3rd ed, pg 214. - UtherSRG (talk) 13:42, 24 February 2007 (UTC)

I love hedgehogs!!!  : ) —Preceding unsigned comment added by BJeUiLnIcAh (talk • contribs) 20:51, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

Mating behaviors

From the section on reproduction and lifespan:

"...and the female has the ability to curl her tail upward to the point that her cloaca protrudes behind the rest of her body."

Now, I don't know much about eutherian anatomy, but I do know that this statement is anatomically incorrect. Monotremes are the only mammals that have cloacas. Somebody who actually knows about eutherian anatomy might want to edit it. 71.217.98.158 22:10, 3 March 2007 (UTC)

I can find no reference that monotremes are the absolute only mammals to have clocacas. What I find is that marsupials, hedgehogs, and tenrecs also have cloacas. What I have seen is reference to hedgehog and tenerec "cloacal-like vaginal opening". I assume that means that the vagina is like a cloaca, but they don't want to call it one for some unmentioned reason. Perhaps because of the belief that only monotremes and marsupials have cloacas. --Kainaw ^(talk) 03:17, 4 March 2007 (UTC)

monotreme means "one hole" 123.211.118.138 (talk) 00:23, 27 November 2011 (UTC)

New image

I replaced the hedgehog out at night image with my own since I felt it was higher quality. But I have no idea what kind of hedgehog the picture is of, so if it should be in a species-specific section or should be renamed with a less crummy generic filename that would be terrific. TygerTyger 09:29, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

Looks like your average European Hedgehog to me. --Kainaw ^(talk) 17:07, 9 March 2007 (UTC)

Etymology

http://www.ling.rochester.edu/people/cross/hedgehog.html has some interesting information about the etymology of "hedgehog" but also the names of hedgehogs in other languages. The Middle English "heyg hoge" replaced the Old English/Germanic "igil", which derived from the Proto-Indo-European "eg'hi" - which is also the root for Russian "jozh", Polish "jezh", Greek "ekhinos" (and hence related to the scientific name), Ossirian "wzin", Armenian "ozni", Phrygian "ezis", Lithuanian "ezhys" and Latvian "ezis". In some languages, the name for "bristle" is derived from this e.g. Czech "jezhina". Not sure how much of this belongs on Wikipedia as opposed to Wikitionary but it's not without interest. 172.143.52.186 19:29, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

That's just the information I was looking for. I surmised that the creature had been in Europe long before the advent of the hedge. I definitely think this should be in the article.--Jack Upland (talk) 08:57, 7 December 2018 (UTC)

Culinary Use

The hedgehog is then removed and the clay cracked open, taking the spikes of the hedgehog with it, a practice that a common urban myth claims is widespread among gypsies.

It's not an urban myth, although its something may have died out now. When my father was about 14 or 15 years old, which was in the 1930s, he had a meal of hedgehog cooked as described above with a family of gypsies, and they told him that it was something they, and their family often ate. So it may have died out nowadays, but it certainly was a gypsy practise at that time. SimonUK 10:39, 11 August 2007 (UTC)

To remove the "urban myth" comment, we must find documentation that demonstrates it was a common practice. So far, nobody has come up with any sort of documentary on gypsy cuisine. -- Kainaw^(what?) 14:30, 11 August 2007 (UTC)

Try this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2168860,00.html Mentions studies by University of Wales stating that hedgehogs are well known to have been used as food. I told you it wasn't a myth. SimonUK (talk) 16:43, 11 December 2007 (UTC)

SO?? Come on then. Admit you were wrong!!! Youve got your precious bloody reference. What the fuck else do you want? Pictures of a bloody gypsy eating one? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.72.75.118 (talk • contribs)

Who was wrong about what? You are certainly very angry about something, but it is very unclear what has upset you to the point of verbalizing like a little child. -- kainaw™ 01:39, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

User:Kainaw wrote in an edit summary:

(→Culinary use: Imitation hedgehogs are not culinary use of hedgehogs. You can make anything in the shape of a hedgehog - it doesn't make it a hedgehog.)

OK - true enough, but what about the hedgehog crisps bit that was already there? Mock-Hedgehog meatloaf, which dates back to the 14th century, is at least as important a culinary "use" as the alleged hedgehog crisps. MattHucke^(t) 17:34, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

I disagree with the hedgehog crisps, but the argument can be made that they are attempting to be "hedgehog flavored." I feel that is pushing the definition of "culinary use of hedgehogs" as far as possible. If we start adding anything that can possibly be shaped like a hedgehog, we'll be in for a monolith article containing hedgehog shaped meatloaf, hedgehog shaped cookies, hedgehog shaped chocolates, hedgehog shaped cakes... What's next? A cat dropped a poop that looked like a hedgehog and a dog ate it - so we add that to hedgehog cuisine? -- kainaw™ 17:39, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

The hedgehog meatloaf isn't something I just made up... it was mentioned in medieval cookery books, and featured on episode 1x02 of Two Fat Ladies. That's notable, I think. MattHucke^(t) 18:05, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

(aside note: thanks for discussing this, rather than blindly reverting with a machine-generated comment. Though we disagree, I appreciate being treated like a human being and not a vandal). MattHucke^(t) 18:05, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

I've found the source. "The Forme of Cury, A Roll of Ancient English Cookery, Compiled, about A.D. 1390, by the Master-Cooks of King Richard II, Presented afterwards to Queen Elizabeth, by Edward Lord Stafford", contains a recipe for sausages "made after an urchoun [i.e., hedgehog] withoute legges" with "smale prikkes of gode past [pastry]".

http://www.fullbooks.com/The-Forme-of-Cury2.html MattHucke^(t) 18:22, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

I would suggest taking the hedgehog crisps section out and rewording it to something similar to: "There are many foods and recipes related to the hedgehog that do not in any way include hedgehogs as an ingredient, such as hedgehog crisps and hedgehog meatloaf." Of course, refs will follow and we will be in for it as editors feel the need to add every hedgehog-related food item that they can think of to the list. To see this in action, see something like string squeak. There was a sentence claiming that it is noticeable in some songs, giving a couple examples. Then, another example was added. Then it became a list. Then another example and another example. It won't be long before the article is not longer about "string squeak," It will be "a list of songs containing guitar squeak." I would prefer that this article didn't become "a list of foods that look or taste like hedgehogs." -- kainaw™ 19:17, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

I'd be happy with moving both the Crisps and Meatloaf to Hedgehogs in culture, with a pointer to it from the Culinary section here. (I've already put the meatloaf text and photo and reference in that article). 99.150.58.47 (talk) 19:51, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

One method for killing the animal suggests holding it up by one of its hind legs and cutting off the tip of its nose when it unrolls, which kills it and drains the blood at the same time.

I suspect that the animal dies through loss of blood. Could be a fairly long and painful process and I personally feel that it should not be presented as an acceptable way of killing a hedgehog (or any animal?). Jghbrown (talk) 09:26, 16 July 2012 (UTC)

Agree (that we should not give advice on the best way of killing a hedgehog) and removed. Materialscientist (talk) 09:47, 16 July 2012 (UTC)

Quite right - and that is the most disgusting, inhumane and painful method of killing an animal that I've ever heard of. Richerman (talk) 10:23, 16 July 2012 (UTC)

Malawi Hedgehog

When I lived in Blantyre, Malawi, there was a tiny hedgehog around the office that I believe was called a "chisoni" in Chichewa.

This thing was very small (it would fit nicely in your cupped hand), not much bigger than a mouse. It was unclear if this was a small species of hedgehog or if it was just not yet adult. (It disappeared one day, so I assume somebody took it home and ate it.)

Malawi was not listed on the habitat list for the Southern African hedgehog, so I don't know if this would be the same type or not. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.239.105.146 (talk) 16:38, 12 January 2008 (UTC)

Wobbly hedgehog syndrome

I don't why this has repeatedly happened, but the word "domesticated" is keeps getting removed from the comment that "wobbly hedgehog syndrome is common in domesticated hedgehogs." Then, someone comes along and correctly notes that WHS is not common in hedgehogs in general. Why is the word "domesticated" being removed? WHS is almost entirely limited to domesticated hedgehogs - specifically the African Pygmy ones bred in the United States. I don't know of a single non-domesticated hedgehog ever having WHS. -- kainaw™ 14:44, 9 February 2008 (UTC)

Leaving food out

It is best to leave out only a small treat, leaving them plenty of appetite for the pests in one's garden. Those "many" people are living in a pipe dream. If one would think logically, one would come to the conclusion that there is a far more nimble and far more prolific animal scurrying in their backyard, also looking for treats. So in conclusion, leaving out "treats" would actually attract more traditional pests. Billlogalneedslove (talk) 01:58, 20 August 2008 (UTC)

Unchanged

"Hedgehogs have changed little over the last 15 million years." - seems like an odd claim to make.216.136.12.34 (talk) 22:30, 14 January 2009 (UTC)

Why? Fossils of hedgehogs from approximately 15 million years ago look nearly the same as modern hedgehogs. Also, hedgehogs are one of the very few mammals that still have a flat brain as opposed to a wrinkled brain - which is a big feature unchanged over time. -- kainaw™ 20:14, 15 January 2009 (UTC)

Another note: There are people who argue that any claim that animals were around 15 million years ago implies that God doesn't exist. Wikipedia is not censored to protect creationists from seeing information that could possible be related to evolution. -- kainaw™ 20:18, 15 January 2009 (UTC)

hedgehog allergies

Does anyone know if hedgehogs are known to cause human allergies or if they're allergy friendly pets? 1-31-09 Creautre —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.15.80.10 (talk) 21:36, 31 January 2009 (UTC)

Dander is the normal cause of human allergies to pets. Hedgehogs do not spread dander. It is certainly possible for a human to be allergic to a hedgehog and have a reaction from handling a hedgehog, but the normal allergy similar to dog and cat allergies is not possible due to the lack of dander. -- kainaw™ 21:48, 31 January 2009 (UTC)

Bird Sanctuary

Could someone explain the part about removing hedgehogs from bird sanctuary?? It said it recieved opposition. Opposition from whom? People or hedgehogs? Im not joking, I just don't understand if they men the hedgehogs are hard to remove, or some people want them left alone? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.72.228.218 (talk • contribs)

I am not certain what you are reading. There is no mention of a bird sanctuary in the article or talk page here. You also do not appear to be reading the instructions at the top of this page as you failed to place your question below other questions and failed to sign your question. Therefore, I can only assume you stumbled here from some place completely unrelated to Wikipedia and posed a question that, in this context, makes no sense. -- kainaw™ 07:41, 21 February 2009 (UTC)

"As with many introduced animals, it lacks natural predators. With overpopulation, it kills off more insects than initially intended and expands its diet to include things such as snails, worms, and the eggs of wading birds. Attempts to eliminate hedgehogs from bird colonies on the Scottish islands of North Uist and Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides have met with considerable opposition." This is the section he is referring to. Its under pest control. I too am confused. Is there opposition from people trying to protect the hedgehogs, or are the hedgehogs themselves hard to catch. ZgokE (talk) 02:54, 14 April 2009 (UTC)

Fixing with reference... -- kainaw™ 03:14, 14 April 2009 (UTC)

Clarification on native ranges is needed

The language in the first paragraph implies that hedgehogs are native to New Zealand. Farther down the undesirable ecological impacts of hedgehogs as invasive species in New Zealand are described. Suggest that the first paragraph should clearly state which areas of Earth have native populations, and which have introduced/invasive populations. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.195.60.9 (talk) 16:58, 30 January 2010 (UTC)

I have been able to find references to back up the claim that there are no native hedgehogs to the Americas and Australia. I have not found a reference that backs the claim that there are no native hedgehogs in New Zealand. I know that the European hedgehog was introduced and has become a pest, but that does not properly imply that there are no other native species of hedgehogs. -- kainaw™ 20:59, 30 January 2010 (UTC)

There are no native hedgehogs (or any native mammals other than sea mammals and bats, for that matter) in New Zealand. Ucucha 21:12, 30 January 2010 (UTC)

Regarding the original question, the lead does not say they are native to New Zealand, only that they occur there now; the next sentence clarifies that they are introduced there. Ucucha 21:13, 30 January 2010 (UTC)

Common Names

Hedgepig — Preceding unsigned comment added by Henrymax87 (talk • contribs) 20:36, 5 August 2011 (UTC)

PL Jeżowate

Plz add new link to http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Je%C5%BCowate — Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.22.117.118 (talk) 17:39, 27 August 2011 (UTC)

Palaeoerinaceus

Shouldn't Palaeoerinaceus be listed among the genera in the sidebar? -Agur bar Jacé (talk) 14:01, 6 October 2011 (UTC)

Isn't it a synonym of Amphechinus? Ucucha (talk) 14:13, 6 October 2011 (UTC)

Edit request from , 2 November 2011

I would like to see a reference for portion of the article that stated four extinct hedgehogs have existed in South America. I have not found any reliable source that verifies this, and would like to see that this portion of the article is either correctly cited or this portion of information is removed based on insufficient data. I would also like several of the sources for this article questioned. I question validity of several of the cited articles.

Knfleshe (talk) 01:28, 2 November 2011 (UTC)

Partly done: I've unmarked this as an edit semiprotected request as we generally will use this template to actually note changes that need to be made, as opposed to discussing concerns. That said, the part about four extinct hedgehogs is indeed not in the article elsewhere, and I too could not find a reference for this, so I've marked it as {{citation needed}}. Thanks, Steven Zhang ^{The clock is ticking....} 03:49, 2 November 2011 (UTC)

No fossil hedgehogs are known from South America; see for example McKenna and Bell's book Classification of Mammals. I've removed the claim. Ucucha (talk) 04:26, 2 November 2011 (UTC)

There is a plant commonly called the "hedgehog plant" which has produced fossils in South America. It is possible that someone got confused. -- kainaw™ 15:05, 2 November 2011 (UTC)

Rattlesnake, did you say?

...a rattlesnake bite will kill the hedgehog anyway. Since their respective ranges do not overlap, I wonder what this actually means? Is their anything published on, say, adder toxin? That would be meaningful. --Wetman (talk) 05:20, 26 November 2011 (UTC)

A little late I know, but that's exactly what I thought when I read this. There's not chance of a hegehog meeting a rattlesnake in the wild so the exmple is nonsensical. Does anyone have access to the cited article to check what it actually says on the subject? I see that the abstract talks about Bothrops jararaca venom but although this is a pit viper, as is the rattlesnake, it isn't a rattlesnake. Also, the article appears to be about mixing the venom and inhibitor in a laboratory to assess the action of the inhibitor - I don't think that can be summarised by talking about a rattlesnake biting a hedgehog. And yes, there is an article about the hedgehog's immunity to European Viper venom here. Richerman (talk) 22:53, 27 April 2012 (UTC)

Three groups with this way of life

The placental hedgehog, the Madagascan Tenrec, and the Echidnas in Australia share a way of life or at least important elements of it having converged upon that. It seems worth commenting on and linking in this or perhaps another article 123.211.118.138 (talk) 00:28, 27 November 2011 (UTC)

Edit request on 26 January 2012

I am a proud hedgehog owner and have had Kayleigh LuLu for five years. She definitely does attempt to hibernate and has to be deterred from doing so for her own well being. As stated in this article:

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/hibernation-in-hedgehog.html : It is important that hedgehogs in captivity should not be allowed to hibernate, as it could lead to a few problems. Hibernation in hedgehog is triggered by various conditions.

Factors Influencing Hibernation in Hedgehogs

Low and Sudden Dip in Temperature: A hibernation can be triggered by a temperature too low for hedgehogs. Also, if there is a sudden dip in temperature, they go into hibernation.

Inconsistency in Day-night Cycle: In case of inconsistency in the amount of light and dark, hedgehogs enter into hibernation. If the hedgehog is domesticated, and is forced to awake at erratic and different times of the day, there is a possibility that the hedgehog will go into hibernation. Hedgehogs can tell it is winter by shorter days and longer nights and they start adjusting their biological clock accordingly.

Illness: Another factor which can lead the hedgehog to hibernation is illness. During an illness, hedgehogs, rather than wasting their energy in movement, lower their metabolism to fight infection. If your pet hedgehog is ill, make sure that it is warm enough and take it to a veterinary doctor.

Age Factor: As the hedgehog grows older, it is unable to regulate its body temperature on its own. A lifespan of a larger species of hedgehog is 4 to 7 years in the wild. Smaller species in captivity have a lifespan of 4 to 7 years. However, the lifespan is just 2 to 4 years in the wild. For example, a hedgehog who is 6 years old, intends to hibernate at 72 degree Fahrenheit, while it is ready for hibernating at 70 degree Fahrenheit at a younger age.

Hibernation in hedgehogs also varies according to their species, sex and age. There are also stages when they arouse during hibernation. These are the stages when they move around a bit to hunt for food and reset their metabolism. These spiny animals definitely know how to conserve their energy.

By Medha Godbole Last Updated: 9/19/2011

66.184.220.68 (talk) 19:31, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

 Not done, sadly all of this is original research unless you can provide reliable 3rd party references--Jac16888 ^Talk 20:55, 26 January 2012 (UTC)

headgehogs

Where did hedgehogs get their name,and why are they called a hedgehog. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.113.196.32 (talk) 01:49, 4 May 2012 (UTC)

Read the article and it tells you in the second paragraph Richerman (talk) 07:03, 4 May 2012 (UTC)

Pictures of newborn hedgehogs

This is a baby Persian hedgehog. Pictures in this gallery are free to be used in Wikipedia. And I'm not sure how to insert them into the page. So if any of you is interested, here are the photos.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.352407074826938.81858.100001729462637&type=1

My name is Arman.T if needed and the date of photography is 2012.05 Place is Shiraz and the country is Iran. BTW, Higher quality images are available. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Netbios (talk • contribs) 18:27, 10 June 2012 (UTC)

Grammar Error in Image Caption

Unfortunately, this page is protected and I can't edit it. There is an image toward the bottom middle where the word "hedgehog" is uncapitalized. Thankyou. LightoftheShadow (talk) 00:03, 11 April 2013 (UTC)

Edit request 18-06-2013

Please add the following to the section "Domesticated hedgehogs":

In the Netherlands keeping a four-toed hedgehog (also known as African pygmy hedgehog) as a pet is allowed, but the same is not true for the European hedgehog, as the latter is a protected species.

Edit: not sure why the citation above is not working. I meant to cite "http://www.egelopvangdenhaag.nl/index.php/de-egel-is-een-beschermde-diersoort", which is the website of a the Hague based hedgehog shelter.

JadedPrimate (talk) 14:58, 18 June 2013 (UTC)

References

Edit request on 27 August 2013

below is requested supplementary content for the "predators" section of the wiki on hedgehogs. Justification : existing text omits mention of their sole predator in Britain, and primary predator across much of their range :

In Britain, the only predator is the badger. Hedgehogs have demonstrably lower populations in areas where badgers are numerous, so that British hedgehog rescue societies will not release hedgehogs into known badger territories. KenMott (talk) 20:48, 27 August 2013 (UTC)

Done by UtherSRG. Celestra (talk) 22:44, 6 September 2013 (UTC)

"Cancer is very common in hedgehogs. The most common is squamous cell carcinoma. Squamous cell spreads quickly from the bone to the organs in hedgehogs, unlike in humans. Surgery to remove the tumors is rare because it would result in removing too much bone structure."

Sorry, I am no hedgehog expert but squamous cell carcinoma can only originate from squamous cells (the clue is in the name!). The Author must be referring to SCC infiltrating and giving metastases TO the bone, or possibly to a primary bone tumour (such as for instance osteosarcoma). The bone does not contain squamous cells. A quick google search suggests that SCC (in particular from the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts) are common in hedgehogs. Literature searches are muddled by the fact that Sonic Hedgehog (the protein, not the videogame character) IS implicated in cancer cell proliferation.Elephantwoman68 (talk) 12:18, 8 September 2013 (UTC)

Just a suggestion: it would enhance the article if the word "spike" was used in it. If, for some reason, it is not considered technical or proper word, it would be good to mention it anyway, as it is popularly used in language. This is just a linguist's opinion. best, r. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 83.23.140.89 (talk) 13:19, 24 April 2014 (UTC)

References

Semi-protected edit request on 30 April 2014

207.191.188.82 (talk) 19:06, 30 April 2014 (UTC) A hagehog is 10feed tal and 50pond

Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. Anon126 (notify me of responses! / talk / contribs) 19:21, 30 April 2014 (UTC)

Predators

It's not correct to say that the only predator is the badger. There is anecdotal evidence for foxes and domestic cats killing them (I am looking for citations) and my dog (a Jack Russell terrier) killed an unwary juvenile a couple of years ago and since then has actively sought out hedgehogs and attacked them (so he has to be closely supervised in the garden after dark).

I suggest the word only is changed to prime or something similar until citations can be found. Cheers... Tony Holkham (talk) 13:26, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

Done The quote from the first citation said they were the 'main' cause of death, so I used that. Thanks, Older and ... well older (talk) 13:54, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

The collective noun for a group of hedgehogs is array or prickle.

No. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.188.61.167 (talk) 16:39, 17 July 2015 (UTC)

Olfactory section

I notice that this section in the article is incomplete, or does not make sense. Eg "this may be that smell is not an important send in men" I can't edit this as I'm not sure what it should say. Tabbipix (talk) 10:20, 11 November 2015 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tabbipix (talk • contribs) 10:17, 11 November 2015 (UTC)

Missing Info

What is average weight of a new born and an adult? What is height and length of an adult?

Aursani (talk) 09:25, 24 March 2016 (UTC)

External links modified

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No link to Dutch article

Why isn't there a link to https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egel ? Barbara Touburg (talk) 16:31, 9 September 2016 (UTC)

The Dutch article is the European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), and there are links between the two articles. —Bruce1ee^talk 06:40, 10 September 2016 (UTC)

Sonic

Why no mention of Sonic the hedgehog? This hedgehog lived in Sega Megadrives and ran like the clappers. 92.62.237.127 (talk) 09:20, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Have a look at the In popular culture section of this article. —Bruce1ee^talk 09:35, 21 March 2017 (UTC)

Head is quilled

The article states: "the quills on the back protect the tucked head, feet, and belly, which are not quilled." That is wrong, "head" should be replaced by "snout" because the head is quilled. (Cannot edit because article is protected.)--78.53.227.10 (talk) 14:56, 8 July 2017 (UTC)

If I understood right, @Mikeywiiwii: wanted to help me to realize the edit by posting an edit request and @Velella: did not realize that the request was intended for the issue detailed above and, therefore, deleted the request without answering. Hence, I am adding the edit request template once again. If this should be wrong, please let me know here how to improve, since I am not familiar with the procedure.--92.224.201.1 (talk) 16:54, 8 July 2017 (UTC)

Usually, the template should go above your request. Most of us who look at these requests tend to remove what we see as blank requests and many of us don't know that a request was already made before the template was used. Hope this helps.

I will leave this request open for another editor to look into in the meantime. jd22292 (Jalen D. Folf) (talk) 18:37, 8 July 2017 (UTC)

Judging from the images in the article, not just the snout but also a significant area in the vicinity of the eyes, ears, and forehead appears not to be quilled. Feel free to explain why I'm wrong, or better still, cite a reliable source. Rivertorch^FIRE_WATER 20:19, 8 July 2017 (UTC)

Not done: please provide reliable sources that support the change you want to be made. jd22292 (Jalen D. Folf) (talk) 06:22, 9 July 2017 (UTC)

OK, let me explain in detail. The article states that, first, the head is not quilled and, second, the head is protected by the quills on the back when the hedgehog is rolled. I state that while the second is true the first is wrong. If "head" is replaced by "snout" in the discussed sentence both statements become correct: First, yes, the snout is not quilled and, second, also yes, the snout is protected by rolling in. Hence, it is possible to replace "head" by "snout" without making it a wrong statement. You may argue that the statement is weaker because it does not make any assertion about other parts of the head that are not snout. If you prefer, we could replace "head" by "snout and also a significant area in the vicinity of the eyes, ears, and forehead". I think this would be a bit lengthy and does not really help the reader, however, at least it would be correct.

You are asking for references. This article is about hedgehogs in general. If it makes a statement about hedgehogs, e.g., that the head is not quilled, this statement must be true for all species. Therefore, if there is at least one species that has quills on its head, the article should be corrected. Searching Google Books, I have found references for a few hedgehog species explicitly stating that they have quills on their head (of course always meaning part of their head, excluding snout, eyes, etc.): "The African pygmy hedgehog's back is covered with quills, beginning at the brow or crown of the head, just in front of the ears and extending down the entire back and down the sides of the animal's body. There is a distinct narrow parting track in the middle of the head where quills are missing."[2] (Sharon Vanderlip, "Hedgehogs", page 9). A second reference for quills on hedgehog heads (the first citation from this second reference apparently writing about Mesechinus) "Key to the Chinese Genera of Erinaceinae. 1.a. Ears very large, protruding well above spines on head. Ventral pelage sparse and soft. No spineless mid-dorsal area on top of head." and "Genus Erinaceus [...] ears short, not longer than quills on head." and "Erinaceus amurensis [...] Head, dorsum and sides all covered with long, pointed spines;" (all three citations from Andrew T. Smith et al., "A Guide to the Mammals of China", page 293).[3]

If you still dislike replacing "head" with "snout", it is fine for me to write it differently, as long as it does not state or imply that the head has no quills.

By the way, from my personal experience with European hedgehogs the quills on its head appear to be particularly versatile and important to close the gap when being rolled. Also when not rolling in, when being attacked quills on the head play an essential role in fight and defense allowing the hedgehog to wait for a chance for suddenly dashing forward and biting its opponent while itself being well protected. Therefore, I think it is exceptionally important to avoid any wrong impression that the head might not have quills and is only protected by rolling in.--85.181.138.191 (talk) 12:15, 9 July 2017 (UTC)

I'll send this over to WP:MAM and see what they have to say. jd22292 (Jalen D. Folf) (talk) 16:25, 10 July 2017 (UTC)

Not done: please establish a consensus for this alteration before using the {{edit semi-protected}} template. jd22292 (Jalen D. Folf) (talk) 18:00, 11 July 2017 (UTC)

OK, I will try. @Rivertorch: you have objected my proposal and I have written an answer. When reading my reply, does it convince you or do you still think that the article should not be changed?--78.53.226.197 (talk) 18:35, 11 July 2017 (UTC)

Your reply was reasonably persuasive, but I thought perhaps I'd leave the decision to those who are more familiar with the article. Therefore, I support the get-consensus-first closure, and you can call me neutral but leaning toward weak support. (Incidentally, I just happened to see this. Pings don't work unless they're fresh; if there's a typo and you fix it, the user doesn't get notified.) Rivertorch^FIRE_WATER 23:31, 11 July 2017 (UTC)

Thanks for your neutral/weak support and your explanation about Ping. I needed to think about it for some time to understand how the computer could distinguish "fresh" and "not fresh" pings. Now I guess it will generate a diff and parse the output for keywords. Good that you happened to read my message anyway.

Since Jd02022092 has only asked me to establish a consensus and not to find more people supporting my request, I am enabling the edit request again. However, this is not meant to push my issue quickly. If it is necessary for more people to be involved in the discussion, I can wait or do whatever you kindly advise.--85.181.141.216 (talk) 16:45, 12 July 2017 (UTC)

There's absolutely no reason you should have known about the ping anomaly. Wiki-pinging has lots of anomalies! For instance, I can't ping you because you don't have an account; only registered users can be pinged. I was going to leave you a "welcome and please register" message on your talk page, but I see your IP is dynamic. When you have a chance, please read WP:ACCOUNT and consider signing up. Rivertorch^FIRE_WATER 21:31, 12 July 2017 (UTC)

@JezGrove: As the most recent regular editor of this article, I'd like you to at least handle this request? Or if you know any other editors willing to help, ping them too please? jd22292 (Jalen D. Folf) (talk) 20:24, 12 July 2017 (UTC)

I'm no expert I'm afraid - it's all a bit over my (non-quilled) head... But I've left a message on the talk page of a friend who might be able to help. JezGrove (talk) 22:02, 12 July 2017 (UTC)

Partly done: Changed "head" to "face" as compromise to address request. Eggishorn (talk) (contrib) 18:37, 15 July 2017 (UTC)

Thanks, that's fine.--85.181.50.76 (talk) 21:22, 15 July 2017 (UTC)

External links modified

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No mention of Isaiah Berlin?

Was expecting to see mention of the world-famous essay in the "In Popular Culture" section. Here's the link to the Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hedgehog_and_the_Fox 2601:C6:4100:7B:7D1D:187F:ACB0:1352 (talk) 18:35, 27 November 2017 (UTC)

So what's stopping you from being bold enough to integrate it into the "In Popular Culture" section?--Mr Fink (talk) 19:15, 27 November 2017 (UTC)

Perhaps the fact that it's semi-protected? IP, if you'd be good enough to write the exact text you'd like to see inserted, I'm sure someone will be happy to review and perhaps add it to the article. Rivertorch^FIRE_WATER 05:40, 28 November 2017 (UTC)

invasive

it needs an invasive mammals category. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 122.56.234.144 (talk) 01:33, 26 December 2017 (UTC)

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Sonic the Hedgehog

There ought to be a section which talks about Sonic the Hedgehog. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:983:4601:E8A0:E4E9:A2E0:24A4:D40E (talk) 10:53, 7 November 2018 (UTC)

There is: Hedgehog#In_classical_and_popular_culture. Tony Holkham (Talk) 11:02, 7 November 2018 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 10 October 2020

Add to this section: In culture

• In the 1959 novel Die Blechtrommel (The Tin Drum) by the German novelist Günter Grass, the character Mr. Zeidel is referred to as a hedgehog in Cjhapter 38, The Hedgehog. 2602:306:8018:A430:7C45:8CA2:EF74:33E6 (talk) 05:52, 10 October 2020 (UTC)

  This mention is too insignificant to list here, unless some reliable secondary sources have given attention to this aspect of it. – Thjarkur (talk) 10:27, 10 October 2020 (UTC)

Which hedgehogs are these, and would the video be useful for the article?

Family in my garden in September 2021

I assume that a daylight video of such a hedgehog family in daylight is more rare than not (taken in Munich, Germany). Can someone tell the specific type (excuse my lack of a terminus technicus) of hedgehog? Does it make sense to include it in the article or one of the specific sub-articles? Pittigrilli (talk) 18:16, 19 November 2021 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 9 December 2022

Please add a thing at the top that says "Not to be confused with Porcupine" since I've seen people confuse the two animals many times. They aren't the same 64.185.38.66 (talk) 16:59, 9 December 2022 (UTC)

 Not done: I get what you mean, but I don't think this confusion is quite common enough to warrant a hat note (what those headers are called). Usually hat notes are for topics which have similar names, rather than merely having somewhat similar concepts. Also, in the second paragraph it does state Their spiny protection resembles that of porcupines, which are rodents, which I think makes it clear enough that hedgehogs are not porcupines. Thank you for the idea! Ovinus (talk) 18:24, 9 December 2022 (UTC)

Semi-protected edit request on 25 March 2023

Dear Wikipedia Editor,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to request an edit to a source reference on a Wikipedia page.

Upon reviewing the page, I noticed that one of the source links provided in the references section is a dead link. As such, I kindly request that the dead link be updated with a current and working source link.

The dead link in question is located at "Common Diseases Of Hedgehogs" https://www.bowmanvilleveterinaryclinic.com/common-diseases-of-hedgehogs , and the updated source link can be found at https://petearnest.com/common-hedgehog-diseases/.

I understand the importance of maintaining accurate and up-to-date information on Wikipedia, and I hope that this request will help improve the quality of the page.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Sincerely, Anurag Saini Anurags499 (talk) 13:23, 25 March 2023 (UTC)

 Partly done: it's been marked as dead so that the archived the url is displayed first. The source that you provided (a blog) is not needed. M.Bitton (talk) 15:15, 25 March 2023 (UTC)