Amur Hedgehog

Erinaceus amurensis

The Amur hedgehog (Erinaceus amurensis) is a spiny insect-eating mammal of northeastern China, the Korean Peninsula, and the Russian Far East. It resembles the European hedgehog but belongs to an East Asian range with cold winters and mixed forests, farmland edges, gardens, and scrub. Like other Erinaceus hedgehogs, it is mostly nocturnal, curls into a prickly ball when threatened, and feeds on beetles, larvae, earthworms, snails, and other small animal food.

Most human contact involves local wildlife rescue or garden encounters rather than the international pet trade, which is dominated by African pygmy hedgehogs. Rehabilitation may include warming chilled animals, treating wounds and parasites, and overwintering under veterinary guidance when release is not immediately possible. Any captive keeping should account for seasonal temperature needs, secure floor space, hiding areas, and an insect-rich diet; milk and sugary foods are inappropriate. In its native range, road mortality, pesticides, and loss of rough cover are practical stewardship concerns.