Hedgehogs Hedgehogs Photo courtesy of The Happy Hedgehog Description Hedgehogs are a small, insect eating mammals that are found throughout the world. They are native to England, Europe, Africa and Asia. The Pygmy Hedgehog, from Central Africa, is a popular pet in North America.
Many people mistake the hedgehog for the porcupine.
While porcupine quills are extremely sharp, barbed and very dangerous, the hedgehog quill is smooth and not nearly as sharp. Petting a friendly hedgehog can be compared to petting a hairbrush - bristly, but not prickly. The average African Pygmy Hedgehog weighs about 0.5 to 1.25 pounds and is 5 to 8 inches long. They can be fed a good quality dry cat food or a specially formulated hedgehog food. It is best to purchase your hedgehog from a breeder rather than a pet store, but unfortunately, this isn't always possible.