Preparing for Travel

Whether you’re taking your hedgehog to the vet, on a weekend getaway, or moving house, travel can be a stressful experience for them. As prey animals with highly sensitive hearing, smell and temperature perception, hedgehogs are easily overwhelmed by new environments and sudden changes. Proper preparation can make the difference between a safe, calm journey and one that causes lasting stress or even illness.

This lesson covers everything you need to prepare your hedgehog for travel, physically, mentally, and practically.

Understanding the Impact of Travel

Hedgehogs thrive on routine. Disruption, even brief, can throw off their sleep-wake cycle, digestion, and sense of safety. Stress from travel may cause temporary appetite loss, defensive behavior, or abnormal droppings. In extreme cases, it can trigger attempts at torpor (a hibernation-like state), especially if temperature control is poor.

Your job as the caregiver is to minimize unfamiliar stressors and protect your hedgehog’s physical safety through good preparation.

What to Pack

Here’s what you’ll want to gather at least a day before departure:

• A secure travel carrier: Preferably hard-sided or reinforced fabric, well-ventilated, and escape-proof. Include soft fleece lining or shredded paper bedding.
• Portable heat source: A microwaveable heat pad (SnuggleSafe) or chemical hand warmers, wrapped in fleece, to maintain warmth if ambient temps drop below 23°C (73°F).
• Your hedgehog’s scent: Include an item from their main enclosure that smells like home, such as used bedding, a fleece blanket, or a worn shirt of yours.
• Food & water: Carry familiar kibble, a bottle of water from home, and either a non-spill bowl or a drip-proof bottle. Avoid feeding during bumpy car rides but offer water at stops.
• Cleaning kit: Wet wipes (unscented), a trash bag, and a spare liner or towel in case of accidents.
• Emergency health supplies: Nail clippers, styptic powder, critical care food (like Emeraid or Oxbow Carnivore Care), and any prescribed medications.
• Travel documents (if going abroad): Health certificate, vet contact, and microchip info if applicable.

Physical & Mental Preparation

Travel is easier for hedgehogs who are already accustomed to handling and mild disturbances. A few days before your trip, begin gently:

• Let your hedgehog spend short periods in their carrier (5–10 minutes daily).
• Play ambient travel sounds (engine noise, radio murmurs) softly in the background.
• Offer treats and speak calmly while near the carrier.
• Take your hedgehog on short “test drives” around the block, using your final carrier setup. This helps them adjust to motion and sounds.

The goal is desensitization through repetition in a safe, low-stakes setting.

Environmental Considerations

Temperature: African pygmy hedgehogs should always be kept between 23–26°C (73–79°F). This is especially crucial during car trips, where air conditioning or cold weather can cause rapid drops. Monitor temperature closely.

• Noise: Avoid loud music, strong air vents, or heavy traffic noises. Hedgehogs are startled by sudden vibrations and deep sounds.
• Light: Use a lightweight cover (like a dark towel) over the carrier to simulate their usual dark sleep environment. Make sure ventilation remains adequate.

Important Don’ts

• Don’t use wire carriers: their feet may slip or get injured.
• Don’t leave your hedgehog unattended in a car, even for a few minutes.
• Don’t feed unfamiliar treats or change their diet right before travel.
• Don’t allow free roaming inside a moving vehicle. Always use a closed carrier.

Summary

Traveling with a hedgehog requires planning and empathy. By gradually introducing travel elements, maintaining a warm and secure environment, and bringing familiar comforts, you reduce the risk of stress-related issues. Preparation isn’t just about the right items, it’s about understanding your hedgehog’s need for consistency and safety in a world full of change.

Sources

Exotic Animal Formulary, Carpenter & Marion (2022)

Hedgehog Welfare Society (2023). “Traveling with Hedgehogs: Guidelines and Tips.”

Dierenkliniek Wilhelminapark (NL). “Vervoer van egels.”

Wildlife Information Centre UK. African Pygmy Hedgehog Husbandry Guide