A Quick Guide to Hedgehog Noises:
For such little animals, hedgehogs can make one heck of a racket! And like the very worst noisy neighbours, they generally get started in the garden at night. When you are tucked up in bed, trying to get some sleep.
- Grunting and snuffling, like a pig = hedgehog out and about, looking for food.
- Chuffing like a steam train = mating season.
- Chirping like a baby bird = hungry hoglets in the nest.
- Screaming Hedgehog = in pain and distress.
- Hissing Hedgehog = warning sign - keep away!
- Clicking and “popping” Hedgehog = challenge, often to other males in mating season.
Do You Speak Hedgehog?
If you've set up a hedgehog nesting house or feeding station in your garden and you're lucky enough to get visitors then you're more than likely to start hearing some hedgehog noises.
Your local hedgehog can make a whole range of different noises. Anything from a sound like a baby bird to a steam train, depending on what mood she’s in. Some of the noises they make can be quite alarming until you know what they are.
Once you understand what hedgehog noises mean you will know when they need help, when they are perfectly happy, and when they are furious.
So let’s learn some Hedgehog language. Here’s our rundown of the top 12 hedgehog noises you may hear in your garden and what they all mean.
12 Hedgehog Noises and What They Mean.
1. Grunting Like a Pig
This is the basic hedgehog noise which gets them the “hog” part of their name.
It’s the noise that hedgehogs make when they’re out and about, busy searching for food at night.
Though the noise can be surprisingly loud, a grunting, snuffling hog is perfectly happy and should be left to go about her business.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/tjMVor9aMaI
2. Chuffing Like a Steam Train
You will hear this chuffing noise in your garden in May and June during the hedgehog mating season.
The call is mainly made by the female as the male circles her. It sounds very much as though she’s trying to put him off!
The noise really does sound just like a miniature chuffing steam train. It’s quite distinctive and you will easily recognise it.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/KGD9Pzo6twg
3. Chirping Like a Baby Bird
It would be very easy to mistake this noise for the call of baby birds, especially as It happens at around the same time of year as garden bird chicks are hatching.
It’s actually the sound of happy baby hoglets in the nest calling for food.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/OjbpkginCSI
4. Coughing Hedgehog
Coughing is not a good sign for a hedgehog.
A dry, sharp “barking” cough probably just means the hedgehog’s nest is dirty and dusty, the hog has something stuck in its throat.
A continuous wet “chesty” cough, like a smokers cough, on the other hand, is more serious. This could be a sign that your hog has lungworm and you should contact your local hedgehog rescue.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/j6zDMqfL2ZU
5. Screaming Like a Baby
If you hear a hedgehog scream you may well think the sound is coming from a very upset human baby.
This noise is only made by hogs in severe distress and pain. The hog will be injured or maybe trapped somewhere.
If you hear this noise you should definitely investigate as the hedgehog will need your help.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/QITxkIz2jzw
6. Sneezing Hedgehog
Hedgehogs do sneeze and it’s really cute if you catch them doing it.
A hedgehog sneeze is usually just down to a tickle in the nose and nothing to worry about. But if the sneezing is continuous, or accompanied by coughing and wheezing, then it’s something more serious, and a call to hedgehog rescue is in order.
7. Quacking Like a Duck
This is a seriously weird noise to hear coming from a hedgehog. Like screaming, it’s also a distress call. But whereas screaming indicates the hedgehog is in pain, the quacking noise is made when the problem isn’t quite so serious.
Hedgehogs might make the quacking noise if they are stuck in something. Young hedgehogs also tend to make this noise if they are hungry.
8. Hissing like a Snake
Keep your distance from a hissing hedgehog, just like you would from a hissing snake. When a hedgehog hisses, it means he is really annoyed and wants you, other hogs or other animals to clear off.
Hedgehogs will often make the hissing noise if their nest is disturbed or if they are cornered or approached by a predator.
9. Barking or Clicking
When hedgehogs make this short sharp noise, which some people describe as a bark or a click they will also duck their heads and bob up.
The noise is a challenge, and the movement is the hedgehog attempting to head-butt its opponent and stab them with its spines.
The noise is most often heard when one male challenges another during the mating season.
But if you get on your local hogs nerves, you could find them barking/clicking at you too. Best to withdraw to a safe distance as you certainly won’t want to be head-butted and stabbed by an angry hedgehog.
10. Gentle Snoring
Yes, hedgehogs snore! A snoring hedgehog makes quite a cute little noise, and it’s sure to make you smile if you are ever lucky enough to hear it.
The snoring sound usually means the hedgehog is peacefully asleep. But if you should hear the snoring noise whilst the hedgehog has its eyes open, it may indicate that the hog is having trouble breathing.
This could be caused by lungworm or some other respiratory problem. So if you come across this noise in a hedgehog that’s awake, it’s best to contact your local hedgehog rescue for advice.
11. Hedgehogs Talking in Their Sleep
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to watch a hedgehog sleeping, you will see that they twitch and move their legs just like dogs do.
It seems that hedgehogs do dream.
During their dreams, hedgehogs will make the same range of noises they do whilst awake, depending on what they’re dreaming of
Noises made whilst the hedgehog is asleep are nothing to worry about and don’t need your attention.
Even a distress call whilst asleep only indicates a bad dream and the hedgehog isn’t in any danger.
12. And From the Other End!
Yes, hedgehogs do fart! And hedgehog farts sound just like you would expect a fart to sound.
Hedgehog farts can also smell really bad, especially if you have fed the hedgehog fishy cat food, This could be the reason so many hedgehog experts advise against doing this!
Know Your Hedgehog Noises and Help Your Local Hogs
If you would like to listen to some more amazing hedgehog noises check out this great blog post from Hedgehog Bottom Rescue.
British hedgehogs are in trouble and need our help.
Intensive farming, the destruction of hedgerows and the use of pesticides have led to a considerable drop in hedgehog numbers.
Understanding the sounds that hedgehogs in your garden are a great way of getting a better understanding of how you can help them, and when you should leave them alone.
For more information on how you can help hedgehogs visit:
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
And if you spot a hedgehog in trouble, you can find your local hedgehog rescue project by clicking here.
And if you have more questions on hedgehog noises we would love to hear from you, leave us a comment below.
