Is your hedgehog curling into a tight, frightened ball every time you try to handle it? A scared hedgehog can be stressful for both you and your pet. If your hedgehog is new, it’s normal for it to be fearful at first. But ongoing fear isn’t healthy.
Luckily, there are steps you can take to understand the causes and gently earn your hedgehog’s trust.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Hedgehogs get scared due to unfamiliar environments, sudden movements or loud noises, unfamiliar scents, or negative past experiences. You can help by moving slowly, keeping handling sessions short and positive, letting them sniff you first, and associating yourself with treats.
Why Hedgehogs Get Scared
New and Unfamiliar Environments
Hedgehogs are creatures of habit and prefer familiar surroundings. When placed in a new environment like a new cage or room, they can become overwhelmed and frightened. The unfamiliar smells, sights, and sounds are incredibly stressful for them.
Many hedgehogs will roll into tight balls until they feel safe again. Gentle handling and positive reinforcement with favorite treats can help them adjust.
Sudden Movements and Loud Noises
As prey animals, hedgehogs are wired to perceive sudden motions and loud sounds as threats. Things like quick hand movements, vacuums, door slamsming, or music can startle them. Some estimates state at least 90% of pet hedgehogs are afraid of loud noises.
When afraid, they will puff up and raise their quills in defense. To help your hedgehog, make slow deliberate movements around them. Also try to minimize loud noises or sudden vibrations near their cage.
Unfamiliar Scents
Hedgehogs rely heavily on their sense of smell to gather information. New smells, especially strong perfumes, cleaning products, air fresheners or essential oils can be scary. The new scents make it hard for them to recognize their home and feel safe.
It’s best to avoid wearing perfumes or colognes when handling your hedgehog. Also limit cleaning near their cage when possible. Switching food brands suddenly can worry some hedgehogs too since the kibble smells unfamiliar.
Negative Past Experiences
Rescue hedgehogs often arrive frightened due to negative experiences. Past abuse, neglect, or accidental injuries can traumatize hedgehogs causing lasting fear. For example, those dropped as babies might be scared of heights or fast movements that remind them of falling.
Providing a calm, nurturing environment can help rescues regain trust. But some may remain anxious, requiring extra patience and care. Working slowly to form positive new memories via treats and handling sessions is key.
Signs of a Scared Hedgehog
Curling into a Ball
The most obvious sign of a frightened hedgehog is when it curls up into a tight, spiky ball. This defensive maneuver protects its vulnerable stomach and face from perceived threats. When curled up, the hedgehog presents only its spiny back to the world.
According to the International Hedgehog Association, a balled hedgehog may remain curled up anywhere from 5 minutes to a full 24 hours if it feels threatened. Gentle handling and a calm environment may help relax the hedgehog.
Hissing or Popping Sounds
Along with curling into a ball, your hedgehog may hiss, grunt, snort, or make a quiet popping sound. These vocalizations are all warning signs that the hedgehog is feeling scared, anxious, or downright angry about something in its surroundings.
Loud noises, new environments, strangers, or even handling by a trusted human can provoke these defensive reactions. Go slowly with any new introductions. Over time, regular gentle handling can help socialize a hedgehog and reduce fearful responses.
Spiking Their Quills
When a hedgehog curls up, its quills naturally stand on end. But a frightened or angry hedgehog may also erect its quills while remaining uncurled. This makes the little animal look even more prickly and unwelcoming to would-be predators.
If you notice your hedgehog’s quills standing upright when you approach or pick it up, back off and allow more time for acclimation before handling. With patience, slow movements, and treats, most hedgehogs will eventually relax.
Biting
Biting is an extreme act of hedgehog self-defense, typically seen only when they are utterly terrified or in severe pain. According to the Hedgehog Central forums, biting may happen if a hedgehog smells blood, gets severely injured, or has an unknown health issue causing significant discomfort.
However, sometimes overly aggressive handling, loud noises, or extremely unfamiliar environments can also provoke biting. If your hedgehog is prone to biting, examine its living conditions closely and make adjustments for safety and stress reduction.
Earning Your Hedgehog’s Trust
Give Them Time to Adjust
Bringing home a new hedgehog can be an exciting experience! However, it’s important to remember that hedgehogs are prey animals and instinctively wary of new environments and people. Give your new quilled friend at least a week to settle in before you begin handling them.
Allow them to explore their enclosure and get used to their new surroundings first. With patience and care, you’ll earn their trust over time.
Let Them Sniff You First
When you do start handling your hedgehog, it’s best to let them get your scent before you pick them up. Place your hand in their enclosure and allow them to come sniff you. This helps them recognize you’re not a threat. Avoid grabbing at them or forcing them to be held.
Go at their pace and let them walk onto your hand when ready.
Move Slowly and Speak Softly
Sudden movements and loud sounds will startle hedgehogs, so go slowly when interacting with yours. Speak in a calm, quiet voice as well. No shouting or quick gestures. This kind of energy will only stress them out and make them ball up.
Move deliberately and let them know through your body language that you’re no danger to them.
Keep Handling Sessions Brief
Hedgehogs tire easily when getting used to new people. Keep initial handling sessions to just 10-15 minutes at a time. You can gradually increase the time as your hedgehog relaxes more with you. Watch their behavior for signs of stress like huffing, clicking or spiking up.
If they seem agitated, end the session and try again later after they’ve unwound.
End on a Positive Note
Always make sure to end a handling session on a good note. That is, when your hedgehog is relaxed and comfortable with you. Stop interactions before they get sick of it. You want them to associate being with you as a calming experience.
This positive reinforcement will go a long way in bonding with your hedgehog over time.
Use Treats and Positive Reinforcement
Food motivates most hedgehogs! Use small treats like mealworms or bits of cooked chicken as rewards when your hedgehog demonstrates calm, unfurled behavior with you. This positive reinforcement connects you to good things in their mind.
Just a few treats per handling session though, as obesity is a problem. With patience and tasty incentives, you’ll be best friends in no time!
When to Seek Help for a Scared Hedgehog
If Fear Lasts More Than a Month
It’s normal for a hedgehog to be shy and fearful at first when coming to a new home. However, if your hedgehog remains excessively fearful beyond the first month, it’s time to take action. Continued fearfulness can negatively impact their health and quality of life.
Hedgehogs that remain skittish and curled up in a tight ball for over a month may have an underlying health issue causing the behavior. Alternatively, something in their environment could be terrorizing them regularly, like loud noises or other pets.
Consider having your vet check for illness and examine anything in the home that could be disturbing them.
If They Don’t Uncurl for Hours
It’s concerning if your hedgehog is curled in a spiky ball for multiple hours at a time without emerging to eat, drink, run, or play. This signals an extreme fear response beyond typical shyness towards new stimuli or environments.
Prolonged durations in this defensive state may indicate severe psychological distress.
Stress can comprise hedgehogs’ immune systems over time and cause declining health. If your hedgehog resists uncurling for over half a day despite a nurturing environment, take them to an exotic animal veterinarian to address any underlying illness or trauma contributing to the behavior.
If They Have Other Signs of Illness
Sometimes medical issues manifest through behavioral changes like increased fearfulness or lethargy. Watch for other potential signs of sickness in scared hedgehogs, like appetite changes, weight fluctuations, gastrointestinal issues, wheezing or noisy breathing, sluggishness, imbalance, skin irritation, or discharge from eyes/nose.
Have an exotic animal vet examine your hedgehog if fearfulness arises alongside other concerning symptoms. The combination likely signals an illness requiring diagnosis and treatment to resolve the behavior changes and improve well-being.
Conclusion
It’s normal for hedgehogs to be shy and fearful creatures initially. But with time, patience, and care on your part, even the most timid hedgehog can transform into an endearing companion. Pay close attention to your pet’s body language, go slowly when handling them, and reinforce positive interactions with treats to earn their trust.
If you give them a calm, loving environment, most hedgehogs will come out of their spiny shells in good time!
