Got Spiky Friends?: A Revelation on Hedgehog's Odd Behavior During Summer Nights
- authored by Annette B.
- reading time: - 2 minutes
Hedgehogs exhibit a disoriented gait and circle-running behavior. - Hedgehogs exhibiting bizarre spinning and running behavior in local vicinity
Summer nights in our gardens can be an interesting sight, with our feathery friends taking bizarre turns. You may have noticed hedgehogs running on treadmills of sorts - circles! Here's a little lowdown on why these prickly creatures are up to their antics.
In our own backyard, we once witnessed two hedgehogs having a dance-off on the terrace, well past midnight. One was spinning circles around the other, appearing to be a bit off-balance. My husband mulled over whether our four-legged pal was ailing and needed a doctor. We decided to just watch and let things be. Turns out, we stumbled upon a love fest! The curious waltz is known as the "hedgehog carousel". The male hedgehog circles around the female in what can be a demanding, lengthy performance. Females usually aren't instantly smitten and show their displeasure by bristling and hissing. Yet, the persistent male hedgehog could be so engrossed in his obsessive circuits that the lady hogs get a perfect chance to sneak away.
Homeboy's gotta earn his stripes
Male hedgehogs hustle to win a lady's heart. These critters active during twilight and nighttime also lose all sense of time during the mating season. We've had two hedgehogs passed out in the sack at dawn, still smitten, even in broad daylight!
But, the love birds' honeymoon doesn't last long. After coupling, the love-struck suitor gallivants off. The mother consequently raises the babies on her own.
As we speak, baby hedgehogs are popping up all over Germany, thanks to the German Wildlife Foundation. Gardeners must tread lightly, as hedgehog nests could be hidden in leaf piles or dead wood.
Keep a closer eye on your prickly pals
Every kooky spin might not be due to romance. Animal lovers warn that these spiky garden dwellers face numerous perils, from lawnmowers to harmful substances.
Lone tiny hedgehogs lounging in the green fields aren't necessarily orphans. Instead, mom might be just visiting, as stated by the German Wildlife Foundation. So, let them be unless the situation looks truly dire.
It takes five to six weeks for hedgehogs to grow big enough to traipse on their own. They reach sexual maturity after their first winter, prepping for the next round of "hedgehog carousel".
Sources: A press release and hedgehog-friendly gardening suggestions from the German Wildlife Foundation, "Pro-Igel.de", You can find the curious sight of a hedgehog carousel in this YouTube video
Watch the video: The non-profit organization Wildtiere OWL sheds light on a distressing yet common issue: Many garden animals fall victim to lawnmowers or harmful substances.
- Hedgehogs
- Mating Season
- Garden
If you're curious about the "hedgehog carousel," it might be a colloquial or fictionalized term not extensively documented in scientific literature or common know-how. Yet, hedgehogs exhibit unique behaviors during their mating season, including courtship and mating rituals as well as changes in activity levels and vocalization. Create a hedgehog-friendly environment in your garden by providing safe spaces and food sources that do not disrupt their natural behaviors during the mating season.
- During the mating season, male hedgehogs engage in various activities to win the hearts of females, which might include performing repeated circles or 'carousels' similar to the colloquial term.
- Vocational training in pet care and home-and-garden management, along with awareness of community policy, can help promote a lifestyle that is conducive to the well-being of pet hedgehogs and the protection of wild hedgehogs in gardens.
