Hedgehog care: dietary needs and scent sensitivities

Hedgehogs possess highly developed olfactory systems, including a Jacobson’s organ, which makes them particularly sensitive to strong scents. Due to this heightened sensitivity, peppermint oil is generally unpleasant for hedgehogs and can cause irritation or overwhelm their ability to navigate and find food.

As insectivores, hedgehogs maintain a diverse diet consisting mainly of insects. While they do eat ants, ants are considered a supplementary protein source rather than a primary food. Hedgehogs typically prefer larger invertebrates such as beetles, caterpillars, and earthworms to meet their nutritional needs for protein, fat, and chitin.