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	loonylupinlover 2007-02-03 07:01 pm UTC (link)
	Actually hedgie spines are only ouchie when they're all rolled up in a defensive ball. Otherwise they just feel something like the quills of feathers. And their bellies are soft and furry and therefore easy on the boobs. :-P Calm hedgie = very fun to pet. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	singe 2007-02-03 07:05 pm UTC (link)
	Really? That's a relief, that picture was making me wince. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	loonylupinlover 2007-02-03 07:11 pm UTC (link)
	Yeah. Porcupine quills = sharp at all times, and can be thrown at you for good measure. Hedgehog spines = usually laying flat on the body unless in a defensive posture, and non-removable. And if you pet them going in the direction going with the spines, unless the hedgehog is freaked out you can't feel the points at all. Very cool little critters. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	singe 2007-02-03 07:18 pm UTC (link)
	Awww, now I want one. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	loonylupinlover 2007-02-03 07:48 pm UTC (link)
	They are so cute. And snuggly. And curious. And they love crunching fresh bugs. Such fun little guys! (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	happiestsadist 2007-02-03 09:16 pm UTC (link)
	Ours is so not snuggly. He's all shy and curmudgeonly, which is also thankfully absolutely adorable. And he's all full of glee when he gets bugs too. What's your hedgie's name? Ours is Milo. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	*joins in the hedgie love* ninja_stripper 2007-02-03 09:57 pm UTC (link)
	EEEE hedgie owners! Mine passed away (at the ripe old age of 9) and I have a dog, so I haven't gotten a new one yet. He was a snuggle hedge named Flash. He was spoiled and had his own heating pad. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: joins in the hedgie love happiestsadist 2007-02-03 10:00 pm UTC (link)
	Nine!? That's damned old for a hedgehog. Awww, perhaps Milo can be tempted into snuggling with a heating pad. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: joins in the hedgie love ninja_stripper 2007-02-03 10:23 pm UTC (link)
	They called him Methuselah at the vet's. XD The little interns loved him and one carried him around in her pocket. He was a very people friendly hog. He went to class with me a lot (college) so maybe that's why he wasn't prickly. 'Sept to my roomate's rabbit. He hated poor Buster. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: joins in the hedgie love happiestsadist 2007-02-03 10:25 pm UTC (link)
	Awww, he sounds like he was such a sweetie. Milo is a grumpybutt, but it's cute too. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	Re: joins in the hedgie love ninja_stripper 2007-02-03 10:56 pm UTC (link)
	My first one was a grump to my boyfriend. He totally hated him XD (Reply to this)(Parent)

	loonylupinlover 2007-02-04 04:04 am UTC (link)
	Oh, she's been gone for several years now... her name was Chrissie, though. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	happiestsadist 2007-02-04 07:32 am UTC (link)
	Sorry to hear. Sweet name, though. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	theladyfeylene 2007-02-04 05:43 am UTC (link)
	My hedgie is also a little curmudgeon. We tend to call her a prickly little bitch. ;) She lets me hold her and cuddle her, but pops and hisses if anyone else tries to touch her. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	happiestsadist 2007-02-04 07:40 am UTC (link)
	Milo makes grumpy noises initially, then sometimes calms down. Mealworms certainly help in making him more amenable to being sociable. Kind of nice to know we're not the only ones with a pointy little grumpybutt. I keep hearing how everyone else's is all friendly and wondering if we're the only ones with a hedge-curmudgeon. :) (Reply to this)(Parent)

(Anonymous)
2007-02-04 01:22 am UTC (link)

Noooo.

Porcupines cannot throw their quills!

Q-5. WHY SHOULD I LEARN TO HOW TO GET RID OF PORCUPINES UNDER MY PORCH, HOUSE, CRAWLSPACE OR SHED?
Back to FAQ

A. Porcupines living under your deck, house or shed pose a danger to humans, children and house pets due to the presence of their sharp, barbed quills. These modified hairs are painful and time-consuming to remove, and it can be quite traumatic for a child or pet to become stuck with them. It is a myth that porcupines throw their quills, and they are not usually aggressive creatures, but they will defend their space if an unknowing human or pet enters it. If a porcupine gets involved in a confrontation, it will often chatter its teeth. Dogs, especially, seem to love to chase porcupines, and they never learn. Livestock, such as cows, horses and sheep will also nuzzle porcupines, and the quills can cause severe medical problems if the animal is not treated promptly.

http://www.unitedwildlife.com/AnimalsPorcupines.html

Their quills are lightly embedded in the skin and come out easily. They're not thrown, though!

- Zoo Employee mouse

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	loonylupinlover 2007-02-04 04:04 am UTC (link)
	Ack, sorry! Mostly exaggeration on my part, but still. Bad me. I don't think we have porcupines in my area, so we didn't go into them when I worked at the zoo. :-P I was just thinking of that scene in The Hatchet where the main character gets his face full of 'em. (Reply to this)(Parent)

	gal_montag 2007-02-04 01:57 am UTC (link)
	I totally want a hedgie for a pet. Only I have a cat. A very very jealous cat. (Reply to this)(Parent)

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