why are hedgehogs illegal
OthÂ­er exotÂ­ic pets, such as sugÂ­ar gliders and Quaker paraÂ­keets, are banned in some states for the same reasÂ­on. Some hedgeÂ­hog speÂ­cies can also carry foot-and-mouth disÂ­ease, a highly conÂ­taÂ­gious virÂ­us that afÂ­fects cloven-hoofed anÂ­imÂ­als, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. The most devÂ­astÂ­atÂ­ing outÂ­break of the disÂ­ease in the U.S. came in 1914, when more than 170,000 farm anÂ­imÂ­als beÂ­came inÂ­fecÂ­ted. There hasnât been an outÂ­break since 1929, and govÂ­ernÂ­ment ofÂ­fiÂ­cials want to keep it that way. HedgeÂ­hogs can also shed salÂ­monÂ­ella bacÂ­teria (but so can doÂ­mestÂ­ic cats and dogs).