Are Hedgehogs Native to the United States and Canada?

Check out this answer from Consensus:

Hedgehogs are not native to the United States and Canada. They originate from Europe, Asia, and Africa, and the species commonly kept as pets in North America are imported.

Hedgehogs are small, nocturnal, spiny-coated insectivores that have gained popularity as exotic pets in various parts of the world. This analysis aims to determine whether hedgehogs are native to the United States and Canada by synthesizing findings from multiple research papers.

Key Insights

• Origin and Distribution:
  • Hedgehogs are originally from Europe, Asia, and Africa, with no native species in the United States or Canada1.
  • The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) and the African pygmy hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) are the most commonly seen species as pets in the United States1.
• Habitat and Range:
  • The Algerian hedgehog (Atelerix algirus) is endemic to North Africa, the Eastern Iberian Peninsula, the Canary and Balearic Islands, and several Mediterranean islands, indicating a natural range far from North America2.