Tag Archives: anointing

Anointing – a weird thing hedgehogs do

The Mama’s hair tasted so good I just had to anoint with it. I had a little chew on her hair while she laid her head down next to me on the desk. Then lick, lick, lick… I added her smell to mine by licking myself with it.

Anointing - a weird thing hedgehogs do

It’s called “anointing” and It’s just saliva basically, mixed with whatever we chewed or licked last. Humans don’t know for sure why we do it (and we’ll never tell ?).

A few theories as to why hedgehogs anoint:

  • we find a new smell in the environment and need to camouflage our own scent with the new smell for safety so we anoint with the new smell,
  • we find a smell we LIKE and want to smell like it so we anoint with it,
  • we anoint with something unfamiliar to possibly add some toxicity to our spines as another layer of deterrent from predators and parasites.

Some hedgies anoint all the time. Some hardly ever anoint. It’s just a funny Hedgehog thing. Lol.

 

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I just can’t help myself

It’s like the urge to #anoint just overtakes me and I MUST do it. This time it’s a DOUBLE #anointing – I do it on both sides!Watch for it! Thank goodness the Mama was here to catch me or I would have rolled right off into the floor. #hogblog #catchmeimfalling #hedgie #hedgehog 3/3

I just can't help myself : It's like the urge to just overtakes me and I MUST do it. This time it's a DOUBLE - I do it on both sides!Watch for it! Thank goodness the Mama was here to catch me or I would have rolled right off into the floor.  3/3

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Hedgehog anointing

Chew chew chew… #anoint! It’s a weird thing #hedgies do that nobody quite knows why. We lick or chew or suck on some things, and make a foam in our mouth which we then cover our spines with. It’s not always the same thing, and it’s not always something you’d expect. Like Mama’s sweater…lol! 2/3

Hedgehog anointing : Chew chew chew... #anoint! It's a weird thing do that nobody quite knows why.  We lick or chew or suck on some things, and make a foam in our mouth which we then cover our spines with. It's not always the same thing, and it's not always something you'd expect. Like Mama's sweater...lol!  2/3

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Enjoyed a little blueberry tea

Enjoyed a little blueberry tea tonight. I came out kinda pink, though.
#notwhatitlookslike #blueberrytea #hedgehoglife #hedgehogtreats #herbalteabag #anointing #itsahedgiething #hedgehog #hedgie #sillyhedgie #nowshessleepy #butshesmellsgood #hogblog

Enjoyed a little blueberry tea tonight. I came out kinda pink, though.

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