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The thousands of pointed quills covering a hedgehog’s back are a warning sign to most predators that they need to stay away. They can even be intimidating for humans at first. While they seem a little frightening, the quills won’t hurt you once you adjust to the gentle way that you’re supposed to handle hedgehogs. Of course, that doesn’t mean that accidents can’t happen. We’ll examine when a hedgehog’s quill will hurt you, how to avoid it, and other fun facts about their spikes.
What Are Hedgehog Quills?
The long, stiff quills you see on a hedgehog’s back are a type of hollow spine. The spines lie on top of two different back muscles that the animal uses to either poke them out or relax them. A hog’s quills are their best defense. They only go into two positions. One of them can hurt you, and the other one can’t.
Relaxed Quills
While the spines of a hedgehog come to a sharp point, they aren’t that sharp when the hedgehog is relaxed. Relaxed hedgehogs have their quills positioned so that they lie evenly across the skin of your hand. They evenly distribute the animal’s weight and will not poke the skin. It feels somewhat similar to touching coffee straws or a hairbrush.
Defensive Quills
A nervous or threatened hedgehog will curl into a ball when they feel threatened. Curling up changes the potion of the spines. The quills become more spread out and sharper to the touch. While the quills most likely won’t break our skin, they are sometimes painful to touch.
Establishing a comfortable and trusting relationship with the hedgehog is your best bet at keeping them from hurting you. If you’re a little nervous about handling them at first, you can use a puncture-resistant glove to make the process easier.
How Many Quills Does a Hedgehog Have?
The number of quills on a hedgehog can vary depending on the species. In general, most hedgehogs have anywhere from 5,000 to 7,000 quills on their backs.
Do Hedgehog Quills Come Out?
While they have a similar appearance, hedgehogs are not the same as porcupines. In fact, the two animals are not even related. Hedgehog quills do not willingly come out of their bodies. One of the few ways they come out is if they are quilling.
Why Is My Hedgehog Losing Quills?
While they may not be able to get rid of them by force, hedgehogs still lose their quills for several reasons. Aside from quilling, mites and infections are two reasons hedgehogs might start to lose their quills. Stress is another factor that sometimes causes this to happen.
In general, most hedgehogs lose their quills through a process called quilling. This usually happens when the animal is still young. It starts when they are between 5 and 6 weeks old and might happen three or four times until they are one year old.
Do Hedgehog Quills Grow Back?
Don’t panic if your hedgehog suddenly loses a lot of quills. Hedgehog quills can and do regrow. However, the rate they grow back depends on their age and what caused it. For example, some younger hogs who lost their quills due to mites might have a harder time regrowing them.
Do Quills Get Softer?
The only time the quills on a hedgehog will ever feel softer is when they are relaxed. Other than that, there is no reason that the hard outer shell on the quills would soften and feel more like fur. If you find a lot of softer quills, it could be because of a nutrient deficiency, and you should take them to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
Can You Trim Hedgehog Quills?
Technically, hedgehog quills do not contain nerves, and trimming them wouldn’t hurt the animal, but that doesn’t mean that it is not recommended. This is your pet’s only defense mechanism; losing it will only make them feel like they are in even more danger. Instead, leave their quills alone and appreciate how incredible they are.
Final Thoughts on Hedgehog Quills
We know that an animal with a body full of spines isn’t the most cuddly-looking, but that doesn’t mean that you have to fear them. As long as a hedgehog is comfortable and relaxed, there is no reason for them to go into a defensive mode and threaten to poke you. Hedgehog quills are unique and beautiful, and learning to handle these animals gently is the best way to keep yourself from getting hurt.
Related Read:
- Why Is My Hedgehog Losing Quills? (Hedgehog Quilling)
- Do Hedgehogs Have Whiskers? What Are They Used For?
Featured Image Credit: Julia Jane, Shutterstock
