Why is my hedgehog jumping at me?

“””” The hissing and jumping is a defensive behavior because the hedgie is scared, not an aggressive one. It's not uncommon for a hedgie to do when they are in a new environment and overwhelmed with all the new changes, it just means that the hedgie is scared and that is how they display that.
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Why does my hedgehog jump when I pet him?

Jump Scares: When your hedgehog huffs, they will most likely jump (usually towards the direction of the touch). Try really hard not to react like you're watching a thriller and don't jump as well. This will go a long way towards building your confidence with your hedgehog and building trust from them.
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Why does my hedgehog huff at me?

Huffing and puffing is a way for a hedgehog to say, “I'm big and bad.” It is a sign that your hedgehog is feeling threatened and scared, nervous, or possibly unhappy. When a hedgehog huffs and puffs, it is trying to intimidate whatever is making it feel defensive.
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Why do hedgehogs jerk?

Frightened hedgehogs may hiss and "ball up". When they do ball up, you will only see a ball of spines. C. If threatened, they will jerk their body upward and thrust their spines towards the handler's fingers or hands.
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How do I know if something is wrong with my hedgehog?

Signs of disease are often non-specific and include weight loss, loss of appetite, and lethargy. Oral squamous cell carcinoma is relatively common in adult hedgehogs. A common complaint is a foul smell in the mouth and weight loss.
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How to Handle & Tame a mean / aggressive / scared hedgehog

What does an unhealthy hedgehog look like?

WOBBLING AND WEAK. Hedgehogs are very strong on their feet and to see one wobbling, swaying, or falling over is a bad sign. Often due to being extremely weak from dehydration or severely emaciated. You will likely see indented skin around their spines with an elongated oval rather than round body.
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When should I be worried about a hedgehog?

If you spot a hedgehog at night and it looks healthy then the best thing you can do is leave it alone. Hedgehogs are wild animals and so can get very easily stressed by human contact. If the sighting is during the day – it could be a warning sign that all is not well.
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What is a hedgehog weird behavior?

Self-Anointing

They will lick or chew the object of interest and create foamy saliva that they will then deposit on various parts of its body. You may see your hedgehog twist and contort in a variety of funny positions as they spread this foamy saliva on their body.
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What is an unusual hedgehog behavior?

With patience, most hedgehogs learn to accept handling. Hedgehogs are unique, inquisitive pets and generally do not bite. Hedgehogs engage in a unique behavior called self-anointing, or anting. This behavior may be elicited by a variety of substances, particularly those with a strong odor.
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How do hedgehogs show aggression?

Indeed, temperaments vary significantly between individuals. Where fights occur, they often involve each individual lowering its head, raising its spines and butting each other's sides, while making aggressive snorting, grunting or clucking noises.
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Why does my hedgehog lick me then bite me?

Sometimes hedgehogs will lick salt from sweaty hands and become tempted to bite, because they like the salty taste. When a hedgehog bites due to taste and smell it is exhibiting normal, but unacceptable behavior. This is the most common reason for biting and the easiest to avoid.
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How do you tell if your hedgehog is comfortable with you?

When your hedgehog is relaxed, his quills will lie evenly. If your hedgehog feels threatened, the quills will become more spread out and sharp to the touch. Avoid petting your hedgehog when he feels threatened. Your hedgehog may not enjoy being petted until he trusts you.
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Do hedgehogs enjoy being held?

Young hedgehogs are generally curious and do not mind being held. Adults (especially males) tend to resist handling and usually will not choose interact with humans no matter how much they were handled when they were young. Hedgehogs are very sensitive to smells.
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What calms a hedgehog?

bath may help your hedgehog relax and get to know you through the bathing process. Even the grouchiest hedgehogs will uncurl in water. Allow a tiny gentle stream of water to run over your hedgehog's back.
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Is it OK to touch a hedgehog?

Keep in mind. Always wear gloves if you have to handle a hedgehog, as they can carry diseases like ringworm and salmonella bacteria which can be passed to humans. Don't handle the hedgehog any more than you need to because contact with humans will be stressful for them.
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Why do hedgehogs lay flat?

A hedgehog lying flat who is cold and still is much more likely to be dead. More likely, but not definitely. Hedgehogs who overheat lie flat and press their bellies to the ground, which is usually a cooling surface. If this doesn't work, they go into a state called aestivation.
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How do hedgehogs flirt?

Males attempt to woo females in lengthy encounters that involve much circling and rhythmic snorting and puffing. The commotion attracts rival males to the scene and courtship can thus be interrupted as interlopers are confronted and rival males square up to one another; head-butting and chases are not uncommon.
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What stresses out hedgehogs?

Long-term elevated stress levels, as in humans, can have serious physiological consequences for hedgehogs. The higher level of stress shows that being handled and placed in captivity can cause long-term stress in the animals. This highlights the importance of periods of captivity being as short as possible.
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What is a hedgehogs weakest sense?

Hedgehogs have pretty poor eyesight. Instead they rely on their sense of smell and hearing to get around in the dark and find food.
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What does petting a hedgehog feel like?

Petting a happy hedgehog is a bit like affectionately stroking a bristly hairbrush. Attempting to pet an upset hedgehog is more like trying to soothe a wriggly cactus of doom.
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Do hedgehogs Recognise voices?

No, hedgehogs may not always recognize their owner's voice or come running when called. While they have good hearing, they primarily rely on their sense of smell and may be moreresponsive to the scent of their owner.
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Do hedgehogs recognize you?

Hedgehogs tend to bond with their owners. They will remember your voice, your smell, and even your appearance. Some will only relax with their owners and be loyal to their owners. Make sure a hedgehog is the pet for you, be prepared for a commitment.
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What is the average lifespan of a pet hedgehog?

On average, when kept as a pet, the hedgehog lifespan is about 4 to 6 years — with some domesticated hedgehogs living about 8 years. “Hedgehogs can be prone to mites and parasites, certain cancers, heart disease, and obesity,” Dr. Jones told The Dodo.
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Why won't my hedgehog curl up?

Hypothermia (dangerously low body temperature) is the major cause of death for struggling wildlife and hedgehogs are very vulnerable. Hypothermic hedgehogs will be sluggish and unlikely to curl up. They will also usually feel cold to the touch, but not always, so do not rely on this as an indicator.
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What age do hedgehogs get wobbly hedgehog syndrome?

Symptoms. WHS most commonly shows up in hedgehogs that are between 2 and 3 years old, but it can appear at any point in Hedgie's life. Usually, the first thing you will notice is weakness and a lack of coordination in the back legs. This causes the telltale wobble the disease is named for.
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