Are hedgehogs good or bad for the garden?

Answer 1

Hedgehogs naturally eat all manner of creatures which many gardeners despise - slugs, snails, and even worms (Although many gardeners don't mind worms and even want them because they keep the soil fertile). And they don't really cause any harm to the garden.

Answer 2

African Pygmy hedgehogs make excellent pets if they are properly bred, socialized, and cared for. However, faulting at any of these three points can make for an ill-tempered animal that will not make a good pet.

All other hedgehog species are not domesticated and should not be captured/kept as pets.

Answer 3

As a hedgehog breeder, my opinion is a firm no.

As negative points -

• Hedgehogs are exotic pets that have a lot of care requirements.
• They are more expensive than say a rat, hamster, or bunny would be.
• Hedgehogs are by nature predominantly nocturnal, and can be quite grumpy when awoken. This offsets most kids immediately and is very discouraging. Most kids who "own" hedgehogs shouldn't simply because they have no patience, and the parents don't have enough either!
• If they are not continuously well socialized every day, they will almost always regress into a "hateful" state that is very hard to get them out of.
• Hedgehogs do have quills, and they will "hurt" your hands at first, because you are unused to the sensation - this does recede within the first few months of handling them. However, children tend to drop them due to the sensation and this can easily injure or kill the hedgehog.
• Most kids lose interest quickly. This is NOT an animal that fares well at being tossed around from home to home or neglected in any way.
• Most kids cannot follow simple handling rules because they are nervous about the animal, or they are too young to remember and follow those rules. This can lead to the hedgie being dropped and hurt, or the animal feeling scared/threatened and biting in defense.

Positive points are -

• properly bred and socialized hedgehogs rarely tend to bite if you follow simple handling rules (wash hands before handling with unscented soap, be gentle and courteous to the hedgie at all times, etc).
• Hedgehogs can also be very loving and entertaining little creatures when you properly care for and handle them.
• Their care is relatively easy though time-intensive.
• They are great teachers of patience - time and time again they push my buttons and make learn to have even more patience!

However, you also need to consider the fact that it is very hard on a hedgehog to re-home them. Hedgehogs tend to bond with their owners strongly (though not the same way a dog or cat would) and re-homing them can be very hard for them mentally and physically.

Can you provide your hedgehog with a foreverhome?

If the parents are assuming full responsibilities for the animals and their socialization, they can make a great family pet. Though I still do not like to see them go home with any young children.

Answer 4

Yes, but a hedgehog is not for everone