Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Hedgehogs are rare but getting popular

Jason W. Brooks El Defensor Chieftain Reporter, jbrooks@dchieftain.com

When Sandra White graduated from New Mexico Tech on May 13, her boyfriend also went through commencement that day. But not everyone who lives in their small Socorro apartment got a degree from Tech this spring.

White and her boyfriend, Shawn West, share an apartment that is home to pets not commonly seen in Socorro, or most places, for that matter. She owns three African pygmy hedgehogs. While still relatively uncommon, the pet is becoming more and more popular in America.

Hedgehogs are normally about 4- to 8-inches long and weigh between 250 and 900 grams (approximately 9 ounces and 2 pounds). Their small size and low maintenance makes them attractive pets for those living in small apartments like White.

"They're not as socially dependent as some other animals," said White, who plans to attend the University of New Mexico for graduate school. "We keep all three of them in a small cage, and they don't have to be held all the time. They're all right when they're separated, but they're more social when they're together."

Hedgehogs live about five years, and are nocturnal, so they frequently seek shelter if exposed to light during the daytime. Many owners use plastic storage bins or similarly sized containers as a cage for the small creatures.

White said she knew a female student at Tech that had a hedgehog, but lost touch with her. Still, it wouldn't be that surprising if other students embraced hedgehogs and other small animals in the cramped quarters that college students frequently face.

"I've always liked hedgehogs, and we couldn't really get a dog," said White, who bought her first hedgehogs from an Albuquerque breeder in October 2004. "When I found out you can buy them, Shawn was doomed (to have new roommates)."

The animals make no sounds, unless they knock something over or are squeaking at each other during a fight, but that doesn't happen much. White said she got three female babies that were about 6 weeks old, but one died. She decided to adopt an adult female in January 2005 through a rescue program. Hedgehogs from certified breeders tend to cost around $100 each.

The two from her original purchase are named Olivia and Alea, while the adopted one is appropriately named Grumpy.

Alea is a smaller hedgehog, with light-colored quills, and timid and burrowing in demeanor. Olivia is a little darker and somewhat more social and adventurous. Grumpy, who had at least one litter of babies before coming to New Mexico from the East Coast, is longer and flatter, like an aircraft carrier.

Hedgehogs can curl into a ball, with their quills interlocking to protect them almost all the way around. But when they are awake and relaxed, hedgehogs will unroll and burrow against anyone familiar who is nearby.

"You can really make a connection with hedgehogs, and they will learn to recognize you," said White, whose bachelor's degree from Tech is in environmental engineering. "They open up as if to say, 'OK, I know who you are, just don't give me a bath."

White bought her three initial hedgehogs from a UNM professor who has since moved away from Albuquerque, but other licensed breeders have come along. Hedgehogs are legal in New Mexico, but because they are from Africa originally, some states still ban them.

The U.S. allowed hedgehogs as pets starting in 1993, but Georgia, Arizona, Hawaii, Utah and California have clear laws prohibiting hedgehog ownership, according to one Web site. Other states have restrictions that can complicate ownership. But in New Mexico and Colorado, the population is flourishing.

While hedgehogs haven't been around long enough to track specifically, the Humane Society's Web site states there were 16.8 million small animal owners in 2003-2004, and estimates there will be about 18.2 million owners by the end of 2006.

West hopes increased ownership will be met by more veterinarians knowing about hedgehogs.

"Nobody knows anything about them," he said.

The animal's prickly nature doesn't keep them from being cuddly pets, White said.

"I take naps with them regularly."

Hedgehogs are insectivores, and will often eat mealworms and wax worms, which are available in most pet stores. Many owners feed their animals "kibble," which is a special hedgehog blend similar to dry cat food.

White and West both encourage potential owners to research the idea thoroughly. "Some people get poked once and say the heck with it; others, like Shawn's cousins, are about 12 years old and can't be patient or still."

There are only a handful of licensed hedgehog breeders in New Mexico. A wide variety of Internet resources can be utilized to help a potential owner decide if a hedgehog is the right kind of pet to have, and how to go about purchasing and caring for such a pet.

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