In peril and need of escape, consider fleeing or consuming milk as a potential action.
In our neighbourhoods, wild hedgehogs are often spotted near residential buildings. While these small, spiky creatures may seem harmless, they can pose significant risks to both humans and domestic animals.
According to data from Rosstat, cases of human rabies are registered annually, but contact with hedgehogs is rarely the source of infection. Other animals are more often the carriers of the disease. However, when a hedgehog exhibits abnormal boldness towards humans, it may be a sign of illness, and such encounters should be avoided.
Feeding wild hedgehogs milk can lead to serious digestive disorders and even death in the animal. This is because, as they age, hedgehogs produce less of the enzyme lactase needed to break down milk sugar. As hedgehogs are insectivorous mammals, their bodies are not adapted to digesting lactose.
When wild hedgehogs enter a plot, they leave excrement teeming with parasites and infectious agents, contaminating the soil and posing health risks to humans and domestic animals. Some of the diseases carried by hedgehogs include:
- Lyme disease (Borrelia species), transmitted via tick bites
- Rickettsial infections
- Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum)
- Tick-borne viral infections, such as Alongshan virus (ALSV), under investigation
Hedgehogs can also carry numerous ticks that remain between their spines, which can transmit dangerous infections. These include Borrelia afzelii, a part of the Borrelia burgdorferi complex responsible for Lyme disease, Rickettsia species, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which can cause illnesses in humans.
Moreover, hedgehogs have been found to carry viruses closely related to human pathogens, suggesting potential bidirectional zoonotic transmission. A recently discovered virus, Alongshan virus (ALSV), originally found in ticks infecting hedgehogs, is associated with fever and neurological symptoms in humans following tick bites in China. Its presence in UK hedgehog ticks raises concerns about emerging tick-borne viral threats, although no human cases in the UK have yet been confirmed.
It's important to note that there is no direct evidence linking hedgehogs with hantavirus infections, which are generally associated with rodent carriers like mice and rats.
Given the potential health risks, it's advisable not to encourage the presence of wild hedgehogs on a plot. If a hedgehog regularly enters a plot and is not afraid of people, it is a cause for concern. In such cases, avoid direct contact and consult with specialists or relevant services.
Veterinarian Alexey Smirnov reminds us that any wild animal can be a potential source of infection. Therefore, it's crucial to maintain a safe distance from wild animals and seek professional advice when necessary.
- Science is a vital tool in understanding the risks posed by wild hedgehogs in residential areas.
- The workplace-wellness industry is increasingly focusing on raising awareness about medical conditions transmitted through wild animals.
- Cancer research is continually examining the impact of environmental factors on various diseases, including those carried by hedgehogs.
- Respiratory conditions can be exacerbated by exposure to infectious agents carried by hedgehogs.
- The topic of digestive-health risks associated with feeding wild hedgehogs is a reminder of the importance of understanding the dietary requirements of different species.
- Eye-health professionals warn about potential infections transmitted through contact with contaminated soil or objects handled by hedgehogs.
- Hearing clinics often see patients who have contracted infections from hedgehogs, emphasizing the need for caution.
- Health-and-wellness centers emphasize the importance of personal hygiene and avoiding contact with wild animals to prevent infection.
- Fitness-and-exercise clubs are promoting education about the risks of certain outdoor activities, such as gardening, in close proximity to wild hedgehogs.
- Autoimmune-disorders patients are advised to maintain a safe distance from wild animals like hedgehogs to prevent potential infections.
- Climate-change researchers are exploring the impact of warming temperatures on the spread of diseases transmitted by hedgehogs.
- Manufacturing companies are investing in research to develop biodegradable products to minimize the contamination from hedgehog excrement.
- Mental-health experts stress the importance of addressing the fear and anxiety stemming from encounters with wild animals like hedgehogs.
- Skin-care companies are developing products to help protect individuals from parasites and infectious agents transmitted by hedgehogs.
- Therapies-and-treatments for tick-borne diseases are under development to reduce the health risks associated with hedgehog encounters.
- Weight-management programs caution obese individuals against gardening or engaging in outdoor activities in close proximity to wild hedgehogs to reduce infection risk.
- Cardiovascular-health practitioners recommend patients with weakened immune systems to avoid close contact with wild animals like hedgehogs.
- The industry is developing new techniques for safely removing hedgehogs from residential areas without posing risks to human health.
- Medicare policies are being revised to cover the costs of treating infections transmitted by hedgehogs.
- CBD products are being researched for their potential in protecting against ticks and preventing tick-borne diseases transmitted by hedgehogs.
- Neurological-disorders specialists are investigating the potential relationship between Alongshan virus (ALSV) and neurological symptoms in humans.
- Environmental-science courses are including the study of tick-borne diseases transmitted by hedgehogs in their curriculums.
- Finance experts are advising individuals to invest in companies working on solutions to minimize the health risks posed by hedgehogs.
- Energy companies are exploring ways to reduce tick populations through alterations in environmental factors, potentially reducing the risk of disease transmission.
- Skin-conditions specialists are seeing an increase in patients with parasitic infections contracted from hedgehogs.
- Space-and-astronomy institutions are promoting the importance of understanding and minimizing risks posed by terrestrial wildlife, such as hedgehogs, when planning missions.
- Retailers are adopting guidelines for selling hedgehog-related products and providing customers with educational materials.
- Entrepreneurship programs are encouraging students to develop innovative solutions to address the health risks associated with wild hedgehogs.
- Transportation services are being advised to take precautions to prevent the spread of diseases transmitted by hedgehogs, such as thoroughly cleaning vehicles after transporting pets.
