What is a Baby Hedgehog Called?
Baby hedgehogs are small and fuzzy creatures that often capture the attention of animal lovers from all over the world. But you might find yourself asking, “What is a baby hedgehog called?”
Hedgehogs are mammals in the Erinaceidae family and their young are referred to as hoglets. A baby hedgehog is born after a gestation period of 35-58 days. Hoglets are born blind and heavily dependent on their parents for the first few weeks of their lives until they are old enough to venture out on their own.
Characteristics of Hoglets
When baby hedgehogs are born, they are incredibly small and have soft, spiky quills that stand up. Hoglets grow rapidly, usually tripling their size within one week after birth. Hoglets generally weigh between 8 – 10 grams when born and grow to be 250 – 400 grams as adults.
More about Hoglets
Here are a few more fun facts about hoglets:
- Hoglets usually begin to develop the ability to see around 7-10 days after birth.
- Baby hedgehogs have fully developed quills by 16 days.
- Baby hedgehogs open their eyes around 3 weeks after birth.
- Under the right conditions, hoglets can become independent by 6-7 weeks.
Hoglets are adorable little creatures and due to their natural curiosity and inquisitiveness, can be a lot of fun. If you’re looking for a new pet, a baby hedgehog can make a great addition to the family. Now you know that the young of hedgehogs are called hoglets!