The Cardinal

Prickly Pets Participate in Pageant

Jett Morris
Staff Writer

Hedgehogs were in abundance on October 3rd, marking the seventh hedgehog show gathering in Anacortes, Washington. The show was a statewide event. Having two hedgehogs myself, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend. The primary event of the show offered judging, where hedgehogs were pitted against one another for a “Best in Show” ribbon based on a list of standards. But it also offered educational lectures, and vendors were present as well.

 The judging aspect of the show divided hedgehogs up into three specific groups. First, by gender. Secondly, they were split by age. Three to six months were in the juvenile class, while 6 months and onward are considered adult. Thirdly, they were classed by color. Hedgehogs come in a wide array of colors and coat variations, ranging in ninety-two sanctioned and widely received possibilities. Hedgehog quills are typically banded with a color, and patterns can arrange by how many banded and pure white (non-banded) quills are present. Patterns are determined by how many non-banded and banded quills are in the hedgehog’s coat. Band colors can range through the light and dark spectrum, from black to a light cinnacot. Albino hedgehogs are considered in a class of their own.
 International Hedgehog Association member, Marc Hines, judged the show. Before the show, Hines went over judging standards in an educational lecture.

“They [hedgehogs] are judged on attitude, form, and their quill coat,” said Hines. Hines handled every hedgehog in order to assess the coat density, form, and their temperament. However, many hedgehogs simply don’t wish to cooperate. They do this by raising their quills in defense, or rolling into balls. Hines then added, “I need to be able to hold them in order to accurately judge them, and so I cannot give them a first place ribbon.” The show was small so many of the hedgehogs were the only one in their color class, but did not receive a first place ribbon because of their stubborn or shy personalities.
 The hedgehogs were then narrowed down to four: the top of their gender, age group, and color class, before they competed head-to-head for the best of show. Many hedgehogs took home two or more ribbons, not including the best of show. One of these was Amy Dreyer, and her hedgehog, Lesotho. Lesotho was one of the few to take home a grand champion ribbon. But, other than the judging aspect and educational lectures, it was a great opportunity to access the hedgehog community, and those interested in learning more about these unique animals to perhaps own them as a pet.

Hedgehogs are nocturnal mammals, surviving on a diet of insects in the wild. In captivity they thrive nicely on a high protein cat food. Most people don’t know that there are seventeen different beeds of hedgehogs. The breed kept as pets is known as the African Pigmy Hedgehog. Native to the continent of Africa, hedgehogs have strict heating requirements.
One of their only defenses are their quills, which cover their backs completely. Controlled by intricate muscles just under the skin, hedgehogs can raise certain parts of their quills, and even flatten them once relaxed. Hedgehogs have a habit of “self-anointing.” This is when a hedgehog likes something so much, that they will nibble and take in as much of whatever it is they like, and lather it in their mouths until they produce a foam. They then spread this foam all over their quills with their tongue. They will anoint themselves with anything. Fruit, fabric, cologne on your shirt, even the carpet. It’s not exactly clear why hedgehogs do this, but it’s widely accepted that in the wild, they might do this to hide their scent from predators.
One of the most typical toys you’ll find a hedgehog playing with is a toilet roll. They will stick their heads into the toilet roll, and walk around with it on. No one knows exactly why they do this, but many believe it has to do with their peripheral vision, or maybe the fact that the toilet roll is significantly darker, and gives the hedgehog a sense of tunnel vision. Or maybe, they think that because they cannot see you, that you cannot see them.
Keep in mind they are first and foremost considered an exotic pet. Because of this hedgehogs are illegal to own in Hawaii, Georgia, Nebraska, and California. In Arizona, Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Wyoming, a permit is required to keep them as pets. Fortunately, they are legal to own in Washington.