The wild Eurasian hedgehogs of the UK, in particular, have been in steep decline dor several decades now. In the wild, hedgehogs forage for food during the time when they are awake, eating a selection of slugs, snails and insects. While they can make terrific pets in the right circumstances, they are not right for everyone. Hedgehogs are cute nocturnal mammals easily recognized by their quills which, unlike those on a porcupine, do not readily detach from their bodies.. They are very stressed by captivity and many or even most wild animals waste away and die in captivity. If you opt to litter train your hedgehog, you'll need to make sure there's enough room for the litter pan, which should be at least 2"D x 6" x 9". That is reason enough. This cage from Heritage Pet Products is … Wild hedgehogs can grow to be up to a foot or more in size as adults – which is still smaller than many cats and dogs, but can be a bit difficult to handle. Where Do Hedgehogs Live? Hedgehogs are nocturnal and so eat at night, and the best time to feed them is just before you go to bed. Not only is it illegal to remove an animal from the wild and keep it, wild animals often carry parasites or other illnesses, plus keeping a wild animal captive is cruel. Nevertheless, the quills can still penetrate skin and hedgehogs can transmit diseases such as ringworm and salmonella to humans. Wild hedgehogs are native to Africa, Asia, Europe, and New Zealand. You can keep hedgehogs as pets, but it's important to learn about these nocturnal, solitary creatures before adopting one. They live for about four to six years and eat mostly dry food. They are shy, love to run at night, and also are nocturnal. You can use clay litter, which is readily accepted by hedgehogs, but can cause dust, or you can consider a pelleted, cat litter to cut down dust, although hedgehogs don't accept it as well. One of the reasons the aforementioned three species of hedgehog are often the ideal species to keep as a pet is their size. It is never okay to take ANY animal from the wild and keep it as a pet. You can buy a specially prepared hedgehog food mix from some larger pet stores, but this is not available in all areas. Another popular pet that is legal in many states is the hedgehog. Also, they are small and should not roam around houses, greeting guests … They should be allowed to be wild solely for that reason. A pet hedgehog can also be kept in a suitable cage that is placed in a room at the right temperature range. They also grow to be several pounds. Alternatively, place a heat lamp over the cage. What you need to know about Hedgehogs as pets First of all, there is a dire need to understand that hedgehogs are not suited to homes the way other pets such as bunnies or dogs and cats are. Just because a a wild animal is caged or restrained does not make it a pet. 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