Having a pet is in fashion. More and more families and people decide to have one more member at home, especially dogs and cats, the most common. But there is also a taste, which has grown in recent years, for animals that are not domestic.
There are different regulations regarding exotic animals and its possession at home. In many cases we are before wild species with specific needs that must be covered, and a house is not always the best option. In addition, you must be aware of the legal status of each animal, since for each species there is a different regulation.
hedgehog characteristics
The hedgehog is a nocturnal mammalian animal (twilight animals) small in size, being able to reach a maximum of 18cm and a weight of 500gr. They like to live in a very large cage located in an area that is as dark as possible, and their food has to be very nutritious and with protein.
Its spikes are not poisonous or especially sharp, but they can cause pain. They are full of keratin, and they help them to roll up like a ball when they feel in danger. They are solitary animals but their character is good and they communicate with growls and screeches.
Is it legal to have a hedgehog at home?
There are 16 different species of hedgehogs and in recent years it has become remarkably popular as a domestic animal. The Spanish Catalog of Invasive Alien Species lists the species that we must not adopt or introduce into the country or they may cause problems among the animal population. It is forbidden to adopt these two species (and their subspecies) in Spain.
Within this catalog there are two species of hedgehog that are not legal to have as pets: the african pygmy hedgehog (or white-bellied), and the egyptian hedgehog (or eared). And it is not allowed to keep endemic species in captivity such as the european either the Moorish The rest of the hedgehogs are legal to have at home, but they must be purchased from legal farms and have the appropriate documentation.
There is no list of legal exotic pets in Spain, but beyond that catalogue, there is a regulation that does not allow the adoption of wild species, since their freedom is defended and the spread of diseases with their cohabitants is thus prevented.
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