Hedgehogs purring ...

[grymalkyn]

Back in March I woke up about 2am, full moon and all that, and stuck my head out the bedroom window to see what it was like out there. I was greeted with this tremendous purring noise - our place is in the middle of nowhere and very quiet so any sound is loud.

I thought to myself, sleepily, "frogs don't purr ... do they?" Then a vague memory came to me from somewhere, I was sure I'd heard that hedgehogs sometimes purr. We have (at least) 3 rescued hedgehogs. As there were originally 2 boys and a girl it's likel we have a few more by now. Whatever, I hung out the window and peered towards where the sound was coming from, on the grass by the pond. I could see scuffling shadows but not make out any real forms. I had to go down and lootl.

Rounding the corner of the house showed me 3 little round things scuttling about - hedgehog size! Then there were some more usual squeaks and barks and grunts. It really did seem to be hedgehogs. They must have not long woken properly, it was in that warm spell.

I couldn't go back to sleep without Googling to see if I could find out any more. No soundbites but several peole had commented in various places that they'd hear hedgehogs making a purring noise.

Has anyone here heard it? Does anyone know any more about it?

[mbaldw]

Has anyone here heard it? Does anyone know any more about it?

I've certainly heard about this behaviour, although I've never actually heard the purring itself. Everything I read on it has been cases of hedgehogs purring in captivity and most suggest that it is usually a sign of contentment. In some cases, they have been documented to purr when eating a particularly favourite food. None of the books or papers I read on hedgehogs make specific reference to a "purr", although in his fascinating Corgi Survival book The Hedgehog, Maurice Burton tells of the various sounds that people have described to him as having come from hedgehogs and, on page 26, writes:

"They report a variety of snorting and snufflings, hisses and other expulsions of air, and many have used the word 'snoring'. The circumstances in which the snoring is reported either leave no doubt that it has nothing to do with sleep or show positively that it is associated with aggressive actions - a sort of warning to keep away"

Given that cats don't only purr when content, it might not be unreasonable to assume that such vocalisations in hedgehogs have some sort of antisocial implications. Anyway, I'm sure some of the others on here who have kept hedgehogs will be able to provide you with some of their observations.

Cheers,
Marc.

[Kayleigh]

They make a snorting noise when mating or fending off another male..

[Gaina]

I just googled 'purring hedgehogs' and there are a few accounts of pet hedgehogs purring.

Aww.

[Hedgehoggy]

Originally Posted by grymalkyn

We have (at least) 3 rescued hedgehogs. As there were originally 2 boys and a girl it's likel we have a few more by now.

Are these 'rescued' hedgehogs permanently confined to your garden, or are they able to freely come and go as they please?

With regards to purring sounds, our native wild hedgehogs make all sorts of weird and wonderful noises, especially so during the courting/breeding season! Occasionally, I’ve heard male hogs making rather loud ‘snoring/purring’ types of sounds whilst in the process of wooing females, so perhaps this is what you were hearing?

Alternatively, the only snoring/purring sounds emitted from any hedgehogs I’ve had in my care have been due to respiratory infections/pneumonia, so this should also be considered.

[Cazzie]

I've personally never heard a hedgehog purr, just the usual gruntings, snortings etc.

However you'd think this little one I overwintered a couple of years ago would be purring eh!!...



Talk about spoilt eh!

[grymalkyn]

Originally Posted by Hedgehoggy

Are these 'rescued' hedgehogs permanently confined to your garden, or are they able to freely come and go as they please?

With regards to purring sounds, our native wild hedgehogs make all sorts of weird and wonderful noises, especially so during the courting/breeding season! Occasionally, I’ve heard male hogs making rather loud ‘snoring/purring’ types of sounds whilst in the process of wooing females, so perhaps this is what you were hearing?

Alternatively, the only snoring/purring sounds emitted from any hedgehogs I’ve had in my care have been due to respiratory infections/pneumonia, so this should also be considered.

We live 3/4 mile from any road so the hedgehogs can come and go as they please. We do seem to keep them around though - and rarely see them although I do hear them. I don't feed them ...should I? There's plenty of normal hedgehog-grub in the garden and surrounds.

I wondered about the "wooing". It was definitely a purring - have cats so know the sound! - but far louder than the cats do and very loud still from 30+ feet away.

I do hope it wasn't a respiratory disease ... The cats still watch them around dusk in their usual place under the ferns and the lilac where they seem to make their home so I hope they're all OK. The origianls came to us over 3 yrs ago, would these be the same or maybe offspring?

[grymalkyn]

Originally Posted by Cazzie

I've personally never heard a hedgehog purr, just the usual gruntings, snortings etc.

However you'd think this little one I overwintered a couple of years ago would be purring eh!!...



Talk about spoilt eh!

That pic is gorgeous!

[Cazzie]

Glad you like it

I do feed hedgehogs but then that's because I'm in a urban area, however you're not, so there's no need unless you want to actually 'see' them feeding close to your house

Hedgehogs can live a fair few years if left too it, so you may well have many generations visiting you atm The cats won't bother them, more intrigue with cats thankfully... a spiked paw and they don't bother them again lol!

It's great you have a healthy population where you live and that you care about them

[grymalkyn]

I would like to see them feeding at our door ... but I spect all the other nocturnal residents - including our cats - would get the food first. And no, no prob with the cats, they know better after spiked noses , but they do find watching the hedgepigs fascinating.

I understand that should I see them about during the day they're starving and unwell, so very glad I don't.