Top Document: Hedgehog FAQ [4/7] - Hedgehogs as pets Previous Document: <6.6> Biting and nipping See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge Don't panic. Here are some tips for finding a lost hedgie. Hedgehog are experts at hide-and-seek. They like to sleep under pieces of clothing, in jacket sleeves, pants legs, etc. They may even crawl into a sock (and get stuck)! Don't move heavy objects that might injure a hiding hedgehog. Check furniture before sitting on it -- especially sofabeds. Many wall units, bookcases, and even built-in cabinets have a hollow base. The back of the unit may allow access to the base. This is a favorite hedgie hiding place. If your hedgehog makes a huffing/hissing noise when he is disturbed, you can use this to your advantage. Carefully disturb potential hiding places and listen for a huff. Knock on the base of furniture and cabinets, holding your ear to the base to listen for a startle response. Repeat several times. One escaped hedgehog was found inside a stereo speaker because he huffed when his owner walked by (luckily, before he was blasted by loud music)! If you find your hedgehog in a difficult place you may opt to wait for him to come out on his own, rather than risk injuring him (or your back!). Blowing the scent of his favorite treat into the hiding place may help lure him out, but only if he's calm and ready, and, most importantly, warm enough to function. If you cannot find your hedgehog, or need to wait for him to voluntarily leave his hiding place, consider whether he might get cold. If he could be in an underheated place (e.g. near an outside wall, on a cold floor) TURN UP THE HEAT. Make it downright tropical if you have to. If he gets too cold, he may enter into a dangerous semi-hibernation state, and will not be able to wake up and come out. (Of course, make sure he's not hiding in heat vents or behind radiators before you do this!) A special thanks goes to Christine Porter for providing the entire section above! You'll be happy to know that Pokey, who inspired the piece, was tracked down and safely returned to where she belongs. I wish I could say I can't relate to what Christine wrote, but I can attest to its accuracy. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- Brian MacNamara - macnamara@HedgehogHollow.COM Hedgehog Hollow: http://HedgehogHollow.COM/ - Brian MacNamara - macnamara@HedgehogHollow.COM Hedgehog Hollow: http://HedgehogHollow.COM/ User Contributions:Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:Top Document: Hedgehog FAQ [4/7] - Hedgehogs as pets Previous Document: <6.6> Biting and nipping Part1 - Part2 - Part3 - Part4 - Part5 - Part6 - Part7 - Single Page [ Usenet FAQs | Web FAQs | Documents | RFC Index ] Send corrections/additions to the FAQ Maintainer: macnamara@bastet.hedgehoghollow.com (Brian MacNamara)
Last Update March 27 2014 @ 02:11 PM
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