Do Hedgehogs Live in North America?

No wild hedgehogs are native to North America.

🦔 The Correction

• Europe, Asia, Africa: Native hedgehog ranges (17 species)
• Americas: Zero native species
• New Zealand: Introduced (invasive)

🤔 Common Confusions

• Porcupines: Native North American rodents (Erethizontidae) — quills, not spines; climb trees; different order (Rodentia vs. Eulipotyphla)
• Pet hedgehogs: African Pygmy Hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) — popular exotic pet in US/Canada, but not wild
• Extinct relatives: Proterix (Miocene, ~16 Mya) — fossil record only

🚫 Legal Status (US/Canada)

• Some states/provinces ban or restrict pet hedgehogs (CA, GA, HI, PA, NYC, DC — check local laws)
• Concerns: invasiveness, zoonotic diseases (salmonella, ringworm), welfare

If you see a spiny mammal in the wild in North America, it's a porcupine. Hedgehogs belong to the Old World.