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Hedgehog babies are adorably referred to as hoglets, as seen in this video by @discover.animal. These tiny babies look nothing like their adult parents, and appearance isn’t the only difference separating them. Hoglets are born entirely underdeveloped, but you’d be surprised to know just how much they lack immediately after birth.
Hoglets Are Born Without Vital Senses
Hoglets are born blind and deaf, with no way to sense the environment around them. Their eyes are closed at birth, and their tiny ears have yet to unfold. Therefore, they rely on their mother for everything, from feeding to encouraging bowel movements. Hoglets like those in this video communicate vocally, letting their mother know when they need something. They’re only about three inches at birth and can’t be handled by humans in captivity for at least two weeks. If a mother smells any other scent on her hoglets, there’s a chance she may abandon her offspring.
Hoglets are also born without quills, but growing them doesn’t take long. Tiny spikes start appearing about 24 hours after birth, giving them more of a hedgehog-like appearance. This is also when the hoglets’ skin begins to change, going from bright pink to a muted brown or gray. A hoglet’s spines are black and white when they’re still adolescent but change in color as they age. Over the next few days, hair also grows around their face, making them look like miniature versions of their parents.
Hoglets Are Curious at a Young Age
While they require their mother’s care for over a month, hoglets are unafraid to wander. After six weeks, they begin exploring their immediate area but never stray too far from mom. By this time, their spines have developed, and they can walk and forage for food on their own. They’ve also doubled in weight and are closer to their adult size, which they’ll reach fully in four months. Adult hedgehogs can have up to 5,000 quills, which protect them once they’ve reached full maturity.
Since hedgehog mating season is between May and June, this gives the hoglets just enough time to explore before hibernation. They’ll spend their first independent adventures foraging for food in anticipation of the winter. Since they only need the warmth and care of their mothers for roughly a month, hoglets learn to be self-sufficient at a fairly young age. An adult female hedgehog can have multiple litters per year, but litters born during the summer have the best chance of survival before hibernation. In the wild, this gives them plenty of time to learn how to forage and care for themselves before tucking in for the season.
The post These Hedgehoglets Look Like Tiny Beans and They are Blowing Our Minds appeared first on A-Z Animals.