What were these hedgehogs doing (cute photos included)?

Factual Questions
1

First off I will describe the event which made me wonder (below are the mandatory photos+video). After that are my questions regarding the event.

Last night I saw a hedgehog walk by my window (which is set halfway down in the ground with a half circle hole dug out around it). I decided to go out and snap a few photos of the little creature, but the hedgehog didn’t like my presence and decided to run. Unfortunately (for the hedgehog), it thought it would be a good idea to hide in this hole dug out around my window, which by the way has maybe a half meter high vertical concrete wall.

This happens to be the second time a hedgehog gets stuck down there. This time I decided to put some boards down as a ramp for the hedgehog to walk out by itself. As I returned with the material for the ramp, a hedgehog was standing above the hole, and for a split second I was dumbfounded of how the little creature could have gotten out by itself, before I realized it must be a second hedgehog.

The second hedgehog walked around the half-circle shaped hole looking for a way down, but it wasn’t brave enough to take the jump. After a few passes along the hole’s edge, it found the makeshift ramp I had put down for the first hedgehog, and climbed down. The second hedgehog wasn’t very shy and even walked over my foot as it looked for a way down, while the first was lying curled into a ball.

I left the creatures by themselves to see if they would get out on their own, while I observed them from my window. For a moment they rummaged around the fallen leaves down there while making quite loud sniffing sounds. Although, for the most part the first hedgehog was curled up while the second kept pushing it. This went on for quite some time while I observed. They didn’t seem to attempt to get out, even though I let them be for quite some time.

It became clear that they wouldn’t get out of their on their own, so I took on a glove to lift them out. I started with the first hedgehog and put it back on ground level (with me being inside my apartment). It stayed around up there for a good while while I took some pictures of the second hedgehog which started rummaging around for a way out (even finding its way onto my windowsill).

When I lifted the second hedgehog out beside the first, again it started pushing on the first which just curled up into a ball. They didn’t run away from there for a good while, after which I decided to separate them a little. I carried the more scared hog away a few meters, and off it went into the darkness.

So, my questions are about the behavior of these hedgehogs. It’s understandable that the first hedgehog jumped down the hole since it was scared. Why did the second hedgehog come looking for the first? It was really trying to find a way to get down there, being more determined than scared of me. Why did it keep pushing on the first hedgehog for so long after reaching it? Was it trying to get it started and to come along instead of being scared into a ball, or were they quarreling about territory and one kept on the defense? Any ideas on why they behaved like that?

Hedgehog looking into my apartment from outside.
Hedgehog lifted out.
Rescued hedgehog waiting around.
Wrong way, climb UP the ramp behind you, not into my apartment!
Video clip of pushing hedgehog.

2

I respectfully request that you submit your story to cuteoverload.com :slight_smile:

3

They’re cute little creatures aren’t they? I’m no hedgehog expert by any means but I have had several as pets and they are very territorial. One pair of males I would let out at the same time during cage cleaning and the bigger of the two would sometimes go poke the other who would curl into a ball. He never rolled him around though. As a WAG; if there was water nearby and one wanted to fight he might roll the other into the water to make him come out of his ball. That’s what weasels do when they attack hedgehogs.

4

This sounds like a cliche…but…sex?

5

I have no idea about their behavior (sorry), but wanted to say that those are some amazing, close-up pictures. Nice job!

6

My Labrador retriever has a beloved toy hedgehog that she carries everywhere with her. But this is the first time I’ve actually seen what a real one looks like (great pictures).

Do these squeak when you squeeze them, too?

7

Fabulous pictures! Can’t answer your questions. Love the pictures! Squee–hedgehogs!

8

Thanks everybody, they sure are cute! So I figured I’d just put a ramp down for them to climb rather than lift them out right away, giving me an opportunity to take some snapshots of them.

Ah, so it might have been a territorial dispute, then I am glad that I separated them a bit. I was afraid I had broken a couple apart, but I figured they’d find each other again if they wanted to, as I only put one around the corner of the house.

I did put some water out for them which was shortly wasted as the ball was pushed against the plastic box with water. I think that was by accident though as it didn’t seem like they had realized water was there. Only when the pushy hedgehog seemed to accidentally step in the water did it realize there was water and started drinking from it.

They seemed to have very different personalities as the pushy one even unrolled as I lifted it up (as seen in the photo) and looked at me, while the other was in ball mode all the way.

Your dog might get surprised if it ever finds a real hedgehog and tries to lift it! Our dog encountered a hedgehog walking across the lawn and immediately ran to intercept the intruder, but she realized rather quickly that it was not a good toy.

9

How fast do hedgehogs physically mature before they leave the nest/burrow/whatever?

Could the more shy critter have been a not-quite-fully-grown juvenile? Could the pushy one have been a parent checking up on a (first) missing and (later) potentially injured nestling?

10

They were trying to make me squee myself to death, and they nearly succeeded.

11

Cutest, ever! No hedgehog expertise here, but your photos and story quite made my day!

12

The ones I had as pets were exactly like this. Some rolled into a ball as soon as you approached. Others would lay their quills down and happily snurfle about your hand. I soon learned not to buy them from pet stores, they just didn’t get handled properly. The ones I got from breeders or small pet shops were accustomed to being handled by humans and were exceptionally friendly (and curious). I don’t know if you get June bugs in your area but they were a favourite treat for mine; they only eat live ones but sometimes I would get one that was hit by a door or something. They’re not quite as cute with a June bug in their sights though.

Mine only had to sniff once before deciding better of it. :stuck_out_tongue:

You win the award for cutest GQ thread I think.

13

I don’t think we have such bugs here, they seem like nasty critters.

Our dog probably got her nose stung when sniffing the hedgehog, and quickly retreated a step, looking at the hedgehog in bewilderment.

Woo, I won! What do I get?

Actually I considered putting my little story in MPSIMS to share the cuteness, but since I was really curious about why the hedgehogs acted in that manner I decided to ask here.

For those who are interested, there are more photos in the same folder along with a couple more clips. Here is a listing: http://83.255.186.133/~henrik/nikon/kottar/ .