The Hedgehog Owner Test

Last Updated on September 6, 2013.

Questions

1. Hedgehogs kept as pets in the United States are
   1. the domestic “pygmy” version of the wild European hedgehog.
   2. a hybrid of the Algerian and White Bellied African hedgehog.
   3. cousins to the American Porcupine.
   4. endangered in their native countries and captive bred to prevent extinction.
2. Hedgehogs are
   1. always friendly to everyone and do not take much time to warm up to strangers.
   2. mostly shy and defensive and do not enjoy regular handling.
   3. cuddly creatures constantly looking for human contact.
   4. shy and quiet by nature and need to learn to trust new people.
3. Hedgehogs make great pets because
   1. they were first domesticated by cavemen and have been kept as pets for thousands of years.
   2. they are easily trainable, can be called by their name, and seek attention by their owners.
   3. they have lots of personality and can form a bond with their owners.
   4. they are hypoallergenic, eat cat food, and can live in a small space.
4. Hedgehogs are nocturnal by nature, but they will
   1. accept handling given some time to wake up.
   2. learn to wake to the sound of an alarm like humans.
   3. completely change their night cycle through constant daytime handling.
   4. frequently wake up and play on regular intervals after three hour naps between activity.
5. Hedgehogs need
   1. their cage covered because they like the dark.
   2. regular day and night cycles to maintain their circadian rhythm.
   3. a heat light all the time to keep them warm.
   4. a night-light to stimulate twilight, which is their favorite time of day.
6. Hedgehogs have
   1. great eyesight and gather most of their information about their environment by looking around.
   2. poor eyesight and gather most of their information about their environment through their other senses.
   3. poor eyesight since they are a cousin to the naked mole rat.
   4. great eyesight and use their forehead-furrow to protect their eyes.
7. Hedgehogs should be picked up
   1. using gloved hands only to avoid being prickled.
   2. only if they walk onto your hands.
   3. firmly and deliberately without hesitation.
   4. only at night while wearing night vision binoculars
8. The best way to get a hedgehog to uncurl is to
   1. let it sit on your open palms, out in front of you, and wait.
   2. sing it a Jimmy Buffet song
   3. hold it gently on its back and drizzle a few drops of water inside its ball.
   4. rub a gloved hand back over its spines until it starts to relax.
9. Hedgehogs have a keen sense of hearing so
   1. keep their room as quiet as possible.
   2. play music or the television to buffer sounds and loud noises.
   3. keep all pets that make noise at least 50 feet away.
   4. only whisper to your pet.
10. When petting a hedgehog keep in mind they
    1. can release their quills into your skin if they are scared.
    2. rarely like attention so keep petting to a minimum.
    3. should automatically relax their spines if they are a good pet.
    4. respond best if they can see your hand, smell your hand, and know they are about to be petted.
11. One of the best treats you can give your hedgehog is
    1. apples and bananas because hedgehogs are omnivores that love sweet fruit.
    2. road kill because they are scavengers in the wild.
    3. insects because they are insectivores.
    4. lettuce or greens because they do not consume enough in their natural diet.
12. Raisins, dried fruit, sunflower seeds, and nuts are
    1. choking hazards and should be avoided in their foods and as treats.
    2. great natural treats.
    3. an important part of a varied diet.
    4. ingredients to a hedgehog breakfast cereal you can make at home.
13. Variety in diet is important to provide
    1. the best coverage of nutrients to prevent disease and promote long life.
    2. several sources of nutrients, since the “perfect” hedgehog diet is still unknown.
    3. lots of different tastes and textures to keep your pet interested in eating.
    4. all of the above.
14. Hedgehogs are insectivores
    1. so they require insects added to their diet every day or they will suffer bone loss.
    2. but they can overeat wax worms, which can lead to obesity.
    3. so they should be allowed to search for insects in gardens and in the grass.
    4. but they prefer fruits and vegetables and can easily adapt to a vegetarian diet.
15. When transitioning hedgehogs to new homes
    1. it is best to use the same foods as the breeder and introduce new foods and treats one at a time and slowly to see if your hedgehog likes the new food or has any adverse reactions.
    2. switch foods right away so all the change occurs at once.
    3. it doesn’t matter what foods you use because they are like little pigs and will eat anything.none of the above.
16. The best hedgehog cage
    1. is small and cozy since they like to burrow in the wild.
    2. has plenty of floor space and room for a wheel.
    3. is an aquarium because it traps heat.
    4. has lots of ramps and ladders for climbing.
17. Hedgehogs like temperatures
    1. ranging from 65˚F to 80˚F.
    2. ideally around 74˚F to 80˚F
    3. much lower in the winter to stimulate hibernation.
    4. desert like temperatures as high as 90˚F.
18. The quilling process for hedgehogs is
    1. the replacement of quills that are released as a defense mechanism.
    2. similar to shedding hair and will happen several times throughout the hedgehog’s life.
    3. will make a hedgehog completely bald for a short period of time.
    4. a sign the hedgehog has a fatal illness.
19. Hedgehogs with mites are
    1. rare and only occur in unsanitary conditions.
    2. can be transmitted to hedgehogs from their bedding, environment, or other animals.
    3. likely to die within six weeks.
    4. common because hedgehogs lick the mites off during the grooming process and eat them.
20. Litter pans are a good idea for hedgehogs because
    1. some hedgehogs will instinctively use a litter pan while others can be trained to use the litter pan.
    2. hedgehogs need a sand box for bathing purposes.
    3. clumping litter is a safe, easy way to keep a hedgehog’s cage clean.
    4. it reminds them of their desert environment.
21. The best type of litter pan
    1. has two to three-inch sides for easy hedgehog access.
    2. is placed where the hedgehog naturally tends to eliminate.
    3. easily cleaned and disinfected.
    4. all of the above.
22. Which statement is NOT true about hedgehog odor?
    1. Hedgehogs do not have a scent gland like ferrets and, therefore, do not have a particularly strong body odor.
    2. Hedgehogs do defecate and their feces do stink. What a hedgehog eats affects feces odor.
    3. Cage cleaning and bedding choices are important parts of keeping hedgehog smell to a minimum.
    4. Odor can be covered up using a pet deodorizer.
23. Hedgehogs are solitary in the wild but
    1. females typically cohabitate very well and have even been known to seek out other hedgehog companionship.
    2. pairs of either gender or mixed gender are common in captivity.
    3. two of the same sex can be easily introduced at any point in their life.
    4. all of the above.
24. A hedgehog wheel is
    1. not necessary because hedgehogs are not prone to overeating or obesity.
    2. a wire rung wheel so any excrement or droppings falls to the ground.
    3. made of a solid surface to protect feet and legs.
    4. a hamster size wheel which does not crowd cage space.
25. Litter training is
    1. a 50/50 “crap shoot”. Some litter train and some do not litter train.
    2. only successful if the breeder begins training at an early age.
    3. best done in a small cage so the hedgehog has few places to go other than a litter pan.
    4. not even worth trying because hedgehogs are not likely to use the same spot more than once.
26. The following are factors that affect longevity EXCEPT
    1. diet and exercise.
    2. daily observation and prompt veterinary care.
    3. blood type (a+ and b+ live longest) and activity level at weaning.
    4. genetics and stress factors.
27. The ideal temperature for hedgehogs is
    1. room temperature or as low as 65˚F, because they are from climates that can get very cool at night.
    2. warm room temperature from 74˚F to 80˚F, because false hibernation is less likely to occur.
    3. above room temperature from 80˚F to 90˚F, because they are from the desert.
    4. Unimportant, because they can easily adapt to their environment.
28. Recommended veterinary care includes
    1. annual well-pet checkups like humans.
    2. the same vaccination schedule as cats.
    3. the same vaccination schedule as ferrets.
    4. monthly heart worm medication like dogs.
29. Hedgehogs require
    1. weekly bathing.
    2. bathing twice a year.
    3. bathing to clean dirty feet or self-anointing foam.
    4. no routine bathing because they self-groom like a cat.
30. Self-anointing is believed to be
    1. a sign that a hedgehog likes a new taste or smell.
    2. an attempt to camouflage themselves with the environment.
    3. a way for wild hedgehogs to apply toxins to their spine tips.
    4. all of the above.
31. Outdoor play is
    1. ideal from the spring to the fall regardless of temperature.
    2. a natural experience for hedgehogs that is extremely safe.
    3. excellent because hedgehogs can fend for themselves in the wild.
    4. recommended only with close supervision and careful attention to the hedgehog’s needs.
32. A great way to bond with your hedgehog is to
    1. carry it around in your hoodie pocket.
    2. drape one of your smelly t-shirts over the cage.
    3. let it sleep on you while you watch a movie.
    4. all of the above.
    5. none of the above because they do not bond.
33. The best bath soap/shampoo is
    1. Aloe Vera gel.
    2. an oatmeal bath or an organic/natural shampoo.
    3. tea tree oil.dandruff shampoo.
34. Cedar bedding is
    1. safe and aromatic.
    2. dangerous because of the aromatic hydrocarbons.
    3. excellent in a 50/50 aspen and cedar mixture.
    4. good for use in the litter box.
35. Nail trimming
    1. should only be done by a veterinarian.
    2. is never needed because hedgehog nails wear down naturally.
    3. can be done at home with human nail trimmers.
    4. none of the above.
36. Dry skin should be treated with
    1. nothing – hedgehogs do not get dry skin.
    2. hand cream or lotion.
    3. an organic olive oil or natural skin care product.
    4. a few drops of Vitamin E oil on the shoulders.
    5. either C & D, or both.
37. Hedgehogs’ spines are similar to hardened hairs so getting poked
    1. is likely because even the friendliest hedgehogs have bad hair days.
    2. is unlikely because the spines look sharp but feel rather soft.
    3. is likely because hedgehogs use their spines for protection if they are nervous or afraid and most hedgehogs will be nervous when first going to a new home.
    4. is unlikely because they can be smoothed down flat using a soft bristled toothbrush.
38. Socialization
    1. should start as soon as the babies eyes open or they are not likely to be a good pet.
    2. is an ongoing process that typically takes a significant amount of time and energy.
    3. is impossible with hedgehogs that are over 10 weeks of age.
    4. is a relatively quick and easy process that can be done in a period of approximately two days.
39. What are male hedgehogs called?
    1. buck
    2. boar
    3. hogpa
    4. hehog
40. Female hedgehogs are called
    1. sow
    2. heifer
    3. shehog
    4. hogma
41. Baby hedgehogs are called
    1. hogling
    2. hoggy
    3. hoglet
    4. hedgling
42. Hedgehogs have a variety of color patterns. Which is NOT a color pattern?
    1. Dalmatian
    2. Pinto
    3. Snowflake
    4. Reverse Pinto
    5. Solid
43. There are a variety of hedgehog colors. Which is NOT a color?
    1. Cinnamon
    2. Chocolate Chip
    3. Salt and Pepper
    4. Apricot
    5. Toffee

Primary Author: Gail Dick, Millermeade Farm’s “Critter Connection”