Hedgehog Literature...For the Well-Read Hog

Today's post is dedicated to some of my favorite hedgepiggy reading material. I've mentioned before how I sometimes receive mysterious packages in the mail containing hedgehog items. I've amassed a collection of hedgehog plushies as well as books and they are all quite delightful. Some of the books I have received are "just for fun"- little nature books featuring hedgies full of gorgeous photos and fun facts. I also have some hard core research info books written by people determined to document the entire history (and I mean entire as in going back to prehistoric giant hedgehogs which roamed North America) of the species.

I would like to share my favorite hedgehog books so far. These two are a good mix of fact, legend & lore, and wonderful anecdotes. They are easy to read (and by this I mean that they are meant to be read by people who have not studied zoology and don't have a phD in hedgehogology) and enjoyable.

First is The Hedgehog's Dilemma by Hugh Warwick. Mr. Warwick has studied hedgehogs for decades and is a member in good standing of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. He is an expert in his field, as well as an excellent writer. Here is a link to his personal blog. You will find me on there if you search for "tattoos". Just fyi :) Here is a description from Amazon.com " The Hedgehog’s Dilemma, Warwick gets to the bottom of the sudden boom in hedgehog popularity and examines the relationship between the hedgehog and man, covering both the mammal’s natural and un-natural evolution, from despised vermin to much-beloved beast. A historical and cultural exploration of the hedgehog, this is an engaging, informative, and charming look at the fascinating world of hedgehogs.

For more than twenty years, Hugh Warwick has tracked hedgehogs across the globe in the slim hopes of coming across the hedgehog’s tiny, but unmistakable, pawprints. Warwick isn’t alone in his endeavors. In England and Wales, the Environment Agency, Great Britain’s leading environmental group, recently selected the hedgehog as its new mascot; while in America, which lacks a native hedgehog species, fanciers flock to the biannual Mile High Hedgehog Show to celebrate en masse the little spiny urchin. But why does the hedgehog seem to have such universal appeal?"

Next is The New Hedgehog Book by Pat Morris. Mr. Morris is an intellectual leader in the field of hedgehog research and hs written numerous scientific research papers on them. He was Senior Lecturer in Zoology at the University of London for some time. Here is a synopsis from amazon.co.uk "The first "Hedgehogs" book was published in 1983, and was a bestseller. Its unique blend of humour and scientific observation proved to have enduring appeal and the book has reprinted many times. Much has happened in the last 20 years, which is included here: a worrying decline in hedgehog numbers, the North Ronaldsay saga and the Uist problem. New research has been undertaken on the success of rehabilitating and releasing hedgehogs to the wild and on the effects of slug pellets. The book also critically evaluates designer hedgehog homes."

If you are interested in getting to the bottom of this hedgehog business, I suggest either or both of these excellent books!