If you’ve ever thought, ‘why do hedgehogs curl up in a ball,’ it is generally because they are afraid or annoyed. This is a defensive posture.
With its head and belly tucked inside spikes, the hedgehog feels safer.
It is normal for a hedgehog to do this every once in a while, but you clearly want to do your best not to put them in a position where they feel the need to curl up.
Why Do Hedgehogs Curl Up in a Ball?
You’re holding your hedgehog, when suddenly, they ball up like a mousetrap shutting!
You may have wondered, why do hedgehogs ball? Well, there is a simple answer!
A hedgehog will curl up into a ball to protect themselves and/or get some privacy (similar to when a turtle goes into its shell).
If your hedgehog has balled up, it probably did not like something that happened to them. If you can, you may want to try and figure out what it was.
This could have been a certain way it was held, an animal or odd person that it saw, a loud sound, or a vibrating thump on the floor.
Please be easy: hedgehogs are very timid creatures, and they ball up very fast at the slightest hint of danger!
Why Do Hedgehogs Sleep In a Ball?
Hedgehogs can be found sleeping in multiple positions: Such as on their belly or half-curled up.
The most common position is fully curled up into a ball however. This is because they feel much safer in this position, and they can let their guard down, and they still have spines covering their back to protect them!
If your hedgehog is asleep in a ball position for a period of time and you must wake them up for food or interaction, that is rational.
Just ensure you wake them gently or your hedgehog will be very unhappy with uncurling!
What Do You Do When Your Hedgehog is Curled Up?
So, your hedgehog is in a ball – again. What do you do?
There are a few steps you can take to help your little buddy relax!
Eliminate the Stressor
If your hedgehog has balled itself up, the first and most important thing to do is remove the stressor:
Was it a loud noise or maybe the sight of a predator?
Did someone pick them up too quickly?
Whatever it was, make sure your hedgehog is no longer in that situation!
Take Them Somewhere Calmer
After removing the particular stressor, it may still be observed that the hedgehog is not coming out.
Why might this be?
There can be many reasons, but ultimately the two most common reasons are:
- It is possible that the hedgehog just needs some time.
- Or, the hedgehog may be even more sensitive after a scare and needs to go somewhere quieter and less stimulating.
This can happen even in surroundings in which they are typically ok!
Put Them in Their Cage (No Stimuli)
Should it come to that, there may be a need to place your hedgehog back into its cage.
This should be their safest space, though you should avoid petting or stimulating them in any way.
And when – nothing else calms your hedgehog, putting them back in their cage typically does the trick!
Distract Them With a Snack
As with any animal, the hedgehog can sometimes be distracted and reassured with a healthy snack!
How Long Do Hedgehogs Stay Curled up For?
The duration of a hedgehog remaining curled up is dependent on how scared it was.
If the hedgehog was just irritated it might take it about 10 seconds to a minute to come out. And if the hedgehog is genuinely scared, it may take a few minutes for the hedgehog to unroll.
Sometimes, when a hedgehog has been attacked in a garden or is seriously scared, these little guys stay in a ball for 20 minutes plus.
What Can I Do: It’s always best to make sure your hedgehog is safe so it isn’t preoccupied with the need to roll up for longer than a minute or two, no more!
How Can You Avoid Making Your Hedgehog Curl Up?
It’s nearly impossible to entirely prevent your hedgehog from curling up.
They’re shy little critters and at some point or another, something will likely surprise them.
Nonetheless, you should definitely try and reduce how many times your hedgehog feels the need to curl into a ball!
How Do You Handle Your Hedgehog When It’s Curled Up?
You should try and leave your hedgehog alone, when it decides to ball up.
Of course you may not be able to just leave your hedgehog where they are, and you may feel the need to pick them up and move them to another quieter room, or back to their cage.
In those times, you can wrap their spiky body in a towel to protect your hands.
Final Thoughts
If you ever asked yourself ‘why do hedgehogs curl up into a ball?’, now you know.
Hedgehogs will curl into a ball of annoyance or fright.
Hiding behind spikes makes the hedgehog feel safer!