Hedgehog Courtship

Alby, a visiting albino hedgehog, is here mainly because we hope he'll mate with one of our females and produce more hedgehogs. On April 5, 2003, I took these digital pictures of Alby courting Pike and Trinity. This ritual is accompanied by loud, unmistakeable pleading squeaks from the male.

L-to-R: Pike, Trinity, Alby. The hedgehogs meet...
Alby chases Pike, squeaking loudly. Pike hisses and runs away.

Alby courts Pike, still squeaking as he sniffs and licks her spines. Pike continues to reject his advances.
Alby gives up on Pike and begins to court Trinity instead. Trinity also rejects Alby at first-- note the raised spines.

Success! Alby is accepted by Trinity, and mounts her.
Trinity explores a pile of shoes-- just here to fill space.

L-to-R: Pike, Trinity, Alby. The hedgehogs meet...	Alby chases Pike, squeaking loudly. Pike hisses and runs away.
Alby courts Pike, still squeaking as he sniffs and licks her spines. Pike continues to reject his advances.	Alby gives up on Pike and begins to court Trinity instead. Trinity also rejects Alby at first-- note the raised spines.
Success! Alby is accepted by Trinity, and mounts her.	Trinity explores a pile of shoes-- just here to fill space.