Stickers the Hedgehog

I have been somewhat remiss in introducing our new family member here. Stickers the hedgehog was brought into our family on Monday, May 5. I will try to answer the many, many questions we have gotten about Stickers since we've had her.

Why a hedgehog?

Excellent question! In spring 2004, we visited a children's museum that had a hedgehog as a pet. We thought it would be so fun to have a hedgehog! We started asking around a little bit. They, like dogs and children, reflect the way they have been raised from babies. If they are used to people and socialization, they will do really well with people. That wasn't the time for us to be getting a hedgehog, but a couple of years ago, we started thinking about it again...

Stickers in the pocket of my robe.

Where did you get this one?

Actually, from a hedgehog breeder in North Central Texas! (local pet stores do not carry them as a general rule -- but have had a couple over the years) Go figure... We started trying to get one -- as a baby-- last spring ('07). You just don't want to know how many hedgehog disasters we have been through to get Stickers! If the deal with Stickers had fallen through, I was going to take the sign from the Lord that we are not meant to be hedgehog owners!

Stickers sporting two quills that looked like horns.

Do you let her run around the house/ and have you ever lost her?

No and no and we believe the two are related!! Hedgehogs are 1)burrowers and 2)nocturnal. To 'lose' her in our house would mean that she would burrow and sleep through the day, and get up at night to poop AND search for food that she wouldn't be able to get to. We play with her frequently, but never leave her unattended.

Peek-a-boo Stickers

What does she eat/ where does she live?

She eats dry cat food and lives in a hamster-type cage. She has a little 'igloo' that she burrows in to sleep, and a wheel to run in at night.

Stickers being introduced to the dust mop. Later, we will train her to use it!

Is she prickly?

Um, yeah. Prickly -- and downright painful when she wants to be. Most of the time, she's just your basic prickly. NEVER soft, except for the white fur around her face.

Does she bite?

Nope -- no need. She's prickly. If she smells food on your hands, she'll try a nibble -- but she always licks it to taste first, so if your finger is still there, it's your own fault.

What does Duchess think?

Duchess REALLY wants to play with her -- as in toss her to and fro, play fetch USING her, etc. She's most disappointed that she can't get Stickers in her mouth comfortably. But she can't, so Duchess, outweighing Stickers by about 7,000 times, doesn't bother Stickers in the least.

All in all, we are having a great time with Stickers. You'll have to come play!