subject: Hedgehog FAQ [2/5] - Finding more information

text:
Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part2
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs

Last-modified: 20 November 1996
Version: 2.19

HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 2 of 5) -- FINDING MORE INFORMATION
Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara ([email])
Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.

This document is copyright 1996 by Brian MacNamara.  See section [0.5]
for authorship information and redistribution rights.  In short, you
can give it away, but you can't charge for it.

The basic Hedgehog FAQ has five parts, all of which should be available
from wherever you obtained this one.  A complete table of contents for
all five parts is given in part I.

Please note:  I am not a hedgehog expert, and I did not write, or verify,
all the information in this FAQ.  I have done my best to include only
accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness of
what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that it
will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way.  For advice from
an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed below [2.1], or,
especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian who
is familiar with hedgehogs.

------------------------------

Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE

2. *** Where to get more information ***

   <2.1> What books are there on pet hedgehogs?
   <2.2> What other hedgehog books are there?
   <2.3> Is there any other information available on-line?
   <2.4> How can I find a hedgehog breeder/contact in my area?
   <2.5> Where are hedgehogs illegal?
   <2.6> North American Hedgehog Association
   <2.7> International Hedgehog Fanciers Society
   <2.8> Other Hedgehog Organizations
   <2.9> Miscellaneous Hedgehog stuff and sources

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2. *** Where to get more information ***

------------------------------

Subject: <2.1> What books are there on pet hedgehogs?

For a long time there was only a single tome available on our prickly
little friends, which was often referred to as ``The Hedgehog Book.''  With
the increasing popularity of hedgehogs, a number of books are now becoming
available.  There still seems to be little information on hedgehogs in print,
especially compared to most other animals, but this, fortunately, appears to
be rapidly changing.

``The Hedgehog Book'' is actually titled ``Everything You Wanted to Know
About Hedgehogs But you didn't know who to ask'' by Pat Storer.  This was
one of the first books available on pet hedgehogs.

Pat Storer now has two books available on hedgehogs, and while there is
considerable crossover between the two, her newer book ``Hedgehogs As Pets''
(my thanks to John Ofner, my breeder, for my copy) is targeted more at pet
owners, while the original ``Everything...'' is more oriented towards
breeders.  These books are, for all intents and purposes, the premier formal
tomes on pet hedgehogs, and having one or the other virtually a must for any
hedgehog keeper (keepee?).  While they don't cover absolutely everything,
they do provide a lot of information.  As I mentioned, one is oriented more
to the pet owner and the other more to the breeder, so you can choose the
book most appropriate to your needs.  Both books cover areas of the other to
some extent, so a pet owner looking for basics on breeding will find it in
``Hedgehogs As Pets'' while a breeder can also find pet level information in
``Everything...''

Probably the most essential thing both offer is a reference section on
hedgehog health, body chemistry norms, and drugs (including quantities) that
have been safely used to treat hedgehog maladies.  Given that very few
veterinarians in North America, have even heard of hedgehogs as pets, let
alone ever treated them, taking one of these books with you to a vet in time
of emergency could easily be a life saving act.

That's the good news; the problem is that these books are generally only
available directly from Pat Storer herself, although the Ain't No Creek Ranch
[2.9] also carries them.  Fortunately, they are not expensive, and delivery
is quick (my copy of ``Everything...'' arrived within 2 weeks of my dropping
the order in the mail, and given the delivery speed of snail mail up here
that's quite a feat).  In any case, here are the details:

      	Everything You Wanted to Know About Hedgehogs
       	  But you didn't know who to ask
       	Third Edition

       	Written and Compiled by Pat Storer
       	Country Storer Enterprises, Publisher
       	P.O. Box 160
       	Columbus, Texas   78934
       	U.S.A.

       	Phone:  (409) 732-3562
       	Fax:    (409) 732-9417

       	Single Copies (In U.S.):     $24.00 US dollars
       	  by 4th Class Mail

       	Priority Mail or to Canada:  $26.00 US dollars

And,

       	Hedgehogs As Pets
       	First Edition

       	By Pat Storer
       	Country Storer Enterprises, Publisher
       	P.O. Box 160
       	Columbus, Texas   78934
       	U.S.A.

       	Phone:  (409) 732-3562
       	Fax:    (409) 732-9417

       	Single Copies (In U.S.):     $16.50 US dollars
       	  by 4th Class Mail

       	Priority Mail or to Canada:  $18.50 US dollars

She doesn't take credit cards, but money orders are fine.  The information
above is accurate as of November 1994 (and taken directly from the books).

There is one minor correction to ``Everything...'' that should be noted:

    The correct number for Rainbow Mealworms (mentioned in Storer's
    book) is 310-635-1494.
    -- Katherine Long

More books on pet hedgehogs have recently come into being, for which we can
all be happy.  I've listed the information I have on them below. The first
is with thanks to Elizabeth Jane Monroe and Znofyl.

       	African Pygmy Hedgehogs as your New Pet
       	Dennis Kelsey-Wood, pics. by Ralph Lermayer
       	copyright 1995
       	distributed by T.F.H. Publications, Inc.,
       	One T.F.H. Plaza, Neptune City, NJ  07753

       	or  National Book Network, Inc.
       	4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD  20706

       	or in Canada, H & L Pet Supplies Inc.,
       	27 Kingston Crescent, Kitchener, Ontario N2B 2T6

       	and other places.  ISBN # is 079380192-3

     Abstract:  ``This book represents the culmination of years of research by
     dedicated hedgehog breeders.  Dennis Kelsey-Wood has compiled, through
     intense research, interviews, and study, what I feel is the finest, most
     accurate, and complete gathering of hedgehog facts on husbandry,
     breeding, and care that has ever been assembled in one book.  From its
     accurate text to its superb photos, it is destined to become a classic
     and will no doubt be the standard for anyone interested in these
     fascinating animals.  Enjoy it and Happy Hedgehoggin!''

     Ralph M. Lermayer, President, North American Hedgehog Association

     It has chapters on housing, feeding, healthcare, and the photos really
     are good.

     For anyone having a hard time finding it, you can call TFH directly
     at 1-908-988-8400, ext. 117 and order it from their customer service
     department for $14.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling (no tax for
     non-New Jersey residents).  [editor's note: orders from Canada are
     welcome and are shipped quickly.]

This is a good book, especially for beginners (which is really where it is
directed).  As a result of being a beginner's book, it does not contain the
health standards, and medicine usage that are in Pat Storer's books, listed
above, and is to my mind a good supplement, but not a replacement for them --
especially if your veterinarian is not well acquainted with hedgehogs.  I
found it to be good reading, but it always seemed to avoid a direct answer to
most questions, lacking in real detail.  I must admit, however, that the
pictures alone were both great entertainment, and very useful, giving
probably the best glimpse of what a healthy hedgehog should look like.  I'm
still trying to figure out how the photographers managed to avoid getting
blurred pictures of all those busy noses.  Considering its low price, and
the fact that it's only the first edition, don't hesitate to get it -- I
didn't and I don't regret it for a moment.

Dennis Kelsey-Wood has also released a second book recently (1996) called
``Hedgehogs Today''.  It can be ordered from TFH, etc., as with his earlier
book.

       	_Hedgehogs Today_
       	Dennis Kelsey-Wood
       	copyright 1996
       	distributed by T.F.H. Publications, Inc.,
       	One T.F.H. Plaza, Neptune City, NJ  07753

       	ISBN # is 0-7938-0103-6

The information above came to me by way of Brenda Basinger.

Having finally had a chance to look at this book, I have to say the quality
of the photos is excellent.  That, however, is about the only good thing I
can say.  The book is full of contradictions, and just plain bad advice.
It goes on to suggest that you should ``always use a glove'' to hold a
hedgehog (which captions a picture of a person holding one in bare hands).
It also suggests that a temperature range of from 60-75 degrees F, or 16-24
degrees C is okay, when many hedgehogs will become unhealthy or even go into
semi hibernation at anything much below 70F/22C.  It shows multiple hedgehogs
being kept in a tupperware container barely big enough to squeeze them in
(although it says it's not big enough for a ``long term home'' -- it's clearly
not big enough for anything more than carrying them across the room.  Finally,
its listing of states where hedgehogs are not allowed is totally misleading,
and was clearly the result of only the briefest research.  The book even
shows feeding of raw eggs to hedgehogs -- something that can all too easily
result in salmonella [6.2].

All this is not to say there aren't good points to the book, but the sheer
weight of bad information is nothing short of astounding.  I find it very
hard to believe that Dennis Kelsey-Wood actually wrote more than a few small
parts of this book.  Much of it was clearly written by someone without
knowledge of hedgehogs.  I can only assume that Dennis wrote some of the
textual information, and the rest was filled in by a well meaning, but
hedgehog-ignorant staff writer at the publishing company.

Information on another book was sent to me by Tirya:

       	_Hedgehogs:  A Complete Pet Owner's Manual_

       	by Matthew M. Vriends, Ph.D
       	pub: Barron's Educational Series, Inc.
       	ISBN:  0-8120-1141-4
       	Barron's Price:  $5.95 US

     Barron's has published numerous other pet books in their series, and
     they all seem to be well-received and easily available in pet shops.

     It's geared primarily towards the African, though it has a chapter on
     the European as kind of a compare/contrast thing.  It also has a
     chapter on breeding by Pat Storer.  A lot of good pictures and
     information, in an easy-to-read style, plus a chapter on ``Understanding
     Hedgehogs'' covering body language and sounds.  While it's by no means
     all-inclusive (is there a hedgie book yet that is?) it's a good read.
     -- Tirya

Being very lucky, I was able to get a copy of this and agree that it is a
very worthwhile addition to any hedgehog library -- especially at the low
price (isn't your hedgehog worth it?).  The book contains some medical
information that complements Pat Storer's books quite well, but, again,
does not replace them.  I also got the impression that the author wrote the
book over a number of years and didn't bother to re-read what he had written
in earlier chapters when writing later ones.  There were a couple of minor
places where he seemed to contradict himself, in particular with respect to
foods.  The chapter by Pat Storer is taken almost verbatim out of her books,
but is a worthwhile addition.  The book tends to answer questions in relation
to European hedgehogs almost more so than African Pigmy hedgehogs, and many
of the pictures show Egyptian (long-eared) hedgehogs (which are popular as
pets in parts of Europe).  However, these points are minor quibbles at most
and if taken as a whole, the book is very good, and is, at the price, probably
the ideal starting place for beginning hedgehog keepers.

Now that hedgehogs are becoming so popular in so many ways, books are happily
appearing at a fast and furious rate.  One of the latest I've become aware of
is:

     _Hedgehogs_

     by Nigel Reeve

I have little information on this one, other than it is available through the
_Exclusively_Hedgehogs_ catalog [2.9], and the Spike and Friends Catalog [2.9],
and although apparently focused on European hedgehogs, it does deal with other
varieties as well.

According to the brief write-up in the Exclusively Hedgehogs catalog, it grew
out of a thesis that Nigel Reeve wrote on hedgehogs, and is on the order of
350 pages in length, covering most topics, including health and veterinary
treatment.  Others who have read it have recommended it very highly.

While I am at it, Richard Saunders passed along word of another book that he
found.  This one appears to possibly be a local effort by a hedgehog breeder
on the west coast of Canada, but just in case, here is the information that
is available:

       	_Hedgehogs_
       	_Hedgehog Handbook
       	- Everything You Need To Know To Raise Happy Healthy Hedgehogs_

       	Written & Illustrated by Joan Baydala (Copyright, 1994)

    The small paperback book (64 pages) indicated Joan Baydala is located in
    Kelowna, B.C.  The book doesn't indicate a publisher (weird?) or any ISBN
    reference.

      	Outline of the book is:
      	A Brief History (page 1-10)
      	Survival In The Wild (11-18)
      	Selecting Your Hedgehog (20-26)
      	Housing (27-34)
      	Care and Management (35-46)
      	Breeding (47-56)
      	Allergies (57)
      	A Few Last Words (58-59)
      	References (60)
      	Index (61-64)

Another resource for hedgehog information is the ``Exotic Market Review.''
This is a journal about exotic animals and pets, and is primarily intended for
breeders.  It contains articles on innumerable different animals that most of
us will never have heard of, but also contains an abundance of info on
hedgehogs.  Subscription rates are $10.00/yr in the U.S., $30.00/US/yr for
Canada, and $60.00/US/yr foreign (gee, I didn't know the U.S. had invaded
Canada again?).  They can be contacted at:

       	EXOTIC Market Review
       	P.O. Box 1203
       	Bowie, Texas 76230
       	U.S.A.

       	phone: 1-800-460-3107

One final tidbit I can't resist adding.  I have heard from a certain
publisher of pet books that they too hope to have a book on hedgehogs
in print sometime this year.  I can't offer any more information than
that for now, but I will provide full info when it becomes available
and can be publicly distributed.  ;>

------------------------------

Subject: <2.2> What other hedgehog books are there?

In addition to the books listed in [2.1], several other sources are listed
here.  These books tend to be more in depth for the more serious
hedgehogaholics, or light hearted, for the mere amusement of hedgehogaholics.

Katherine Long has passed along word of another book that is full of
interesting hedgehog information, although it can be somewhat hard to
get in North America.  Here is the bibliographic info:

       	Stocker, Les.  The Complete Hedgehog.  (Illus.)  128 p. 09/1994.
       	Paper.  $19.95.  (ISBN 0-7011-3272-8, Chatto & Windus UK). Trafalgar
       	Square.

This book concentrates on European hedgehogs, but certainly contains
relevant information on hedgehogs in general and is generally applicable
for pet hedgehogs.

    Les Stocker's _The Complete Hedgehog_ is basically about European
    hedgehogs, and a couple of people have said that it takes a fairly
    strong position against keeping them as pets; so it will probably be
    of interest to hedgehog lovers, but not as a care manual.
    -- Nathan Tenny

As a point of interest, Les Stocker is the founder of St. Tiggywinkles
hospital [2.8].

Another book, this time suggested by Bill Corner, is:

       	``Hedgehogs'', by Pat Morris.
       	Published by: Whittet Books.  1983.
       	ISBN: 0-905483-28-6

    [This] is a book by a researcher whose spent his post-doctorate research
    studying Hedgehog behaviour.  Not as comprehensive as [the above one --
    Les Stocker's], but a good read.
    -- Bill Corner

While the following doesn't deal directly with pet hedgehogs, it may
well be of interest to us hedgehog addicts (thanks again Katherine for
this):

    There is a book by the British Hedgehog Society Staff called
       	Prickly Poems.  (Illus.)  64p. Juv (gr 3-5) 03/1993.
       	$18.95 (ISBN 0-09-176379-7, Hutchinson UK). Trafalgar Square.

One more for good measure:

    In looking for chinchilla information, I ran across a book that has
    hedgehog health information.  MANUAL OF EXOTIC PETS, written by the
    BRITISH SMALL ANIMAL VETERINARY ASSOCIATION, KINGSLEY HOUSE, CHURCH
    LANE, SHURDINGTON, CHELTENHAM, GLOUCESTERSHIRE GL51 5TQ.  UK Cost
    is L56.60 and you can pay by mastercard or visa.  The hedgehog they are
    referring to is probably the Eurasian hedgehog but the English do have
    hedgehog hospitals for the ones that are hit by cars during the mating
    season.  For the African ones, I don't Know.
    -- Chingur

    Hedgehogs get killed on the roads ALL the time (apart from when they
    are hibernating, of course) not just during the mating season.  And
    there are thousands of the little critters that get killed on British
    roads annually... :(
    -- Bill Corner

Peter Captijn, has sent along the following (almost endless) list of books
on hedgehogs:

    all EUROPEAN (Erinaceaous europaeus), never pet-owners books:

    - The hedgehog and friends, more tales from St. Tiggywinkles
    by Les Stocker, Chatto & Windus, London, 1990, ISBN 0 7011
    3655 3, 8.99 UK pounds.

    I name this because it is NOT a hedgehog book. It's a book
    relating the work Les Stocker does in his animal care
    center. Although it has a few pages about hedgehogs, nice
    photos and nice pencil drawings, I think you should leave
    it unless you have money to burn.

    In the literature list of Shire Natural History's book on
    hedgehogs (see below) the following books are mentioned:

    - The hedgehog by M. Burton  Andre Deutsch 1969. Reprinted
    as a Corgi `Survival' paperback. Now out of print but often
    available through local libraries.

    - Hedgehogs by K. Herter, Phoenix House 1969. Now out of
    print but often available through local libraries.

    Various leaflets, books, hedgehog toys and other items are
    available from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society,
    Knowbury, Shropshire. [2.8]

    Further information on hedgehogs and other mammals is
    available from the Mammal Society Conservation Officer,
    Zoology Dept., Woodland Road, Avon BS8 1UG.

    Shire Natural History has published a condensed (24 pages)
    booklet based on P.A. Morris and Les Stocker's work. It's very
    colorful, with lots of (very nice) photos and surprisingly
    good information, and it is CHEAP. It's probably the best
    gift for people who want to be introduced to hedgehogs:
    - The hedgehog, P.A. Morris, Shire Natural History, ISBN 0
    85263 958 9, 1.95 UK pounds, reprinted last in 1992. (Would
    be about 2.5 dollar without shipment.)

    - Hedgehogs by Maxwell Knight, a Sunday times book
    publication, Animals of Britain No. 3 edited by L. Harrison
    Matthews, 24 pages, 1962. Almost no information at all,
    advises to give bread and milk (for crying out loud) but has
    one nice sentence: `I do not favor keeping hedgehogs in any
    kind of cage - they are not suited to these conditions and
    seldom thrive.' He advises `semi-captivity' meaning trying
    to lure and keep them in your garden by providing suitable
    housing and conditions.

    I have more books about hedgehogs, but these are original
    GERMAN books, translated to DUTCH, and probably not
    available in English. I will list them because the FAQ is
    read all over the world.

    - Igel in Pension by Claudia Bestajovsky, Franckh'sche
    Verlagshandlung, W. Keller & Co., Stuttgart, 1975
    published in Holland as: Egel te gast, Thieme-Zutphen, ISBN
    90 03 94990 5, 1975
    This book is about caring for late autumn hedgehogs who are
    too small to survive the winter, it's based on her own
    experience in helping 50+ hedgehogs.

    - Geliebtes Stacheltier by Christl Poduschka, Landbuch-
    Verlag GmbH, Hannover, Germany, 1972
    published in Holland as: Onze eigen egel, Nijgh & Van
    Ditmar, Den Haag, 1974, ISBN 90 236 3334 2
    Tales about their garden-hedgehogs and quite some
    information about feeding and caring of them.

    - Igel als Wintergaste by Helga Fritzsche, Grafe und Unzer
    GmbH, Munchen
    published in Holland as: Egels, Elsevier, 1981, ISBN 90 10
    03734 7
    Very good book about the medical care hedgehogs need, very
    thorough on diseases, actually very good in everything. Has
    read Poduschka and improves on her.

    It will be possible to list about 10 scientific articles
    about hedgehogs, all in German, but only if you're really,
    really interested (between 1958-1979, almost impossible to
    get).

And if you are still in need of a hedgehog fix, there's always the Sonic
the Hedgehog series of video games, cartoons, etc.

------------------------------

Subject: <2.3> Is there any other information available on-line?

Discussions of hedgehogs often come up in the rec.pets Usenet newsgroup.
The FAQ ``Fleas, Ticks and Your Pet'' is distributed there, as well as
listed in [9.4].  Several bulletin board systems keep pet FAQs and
discussions, as does the CompuServe Small Mammals forum.

I maintain a set of Hedgehog WWW pages that can be accessed at:
    http://www.pci.on.ca/~macnamar/hedgehogs.html

Among the things available off my pages are links to all other hedgehog
pages I have found, and an HTMLized version of the FAQ.

Jesse Ephraim has also put together an interesting set of web pages on
hedgehogs, including the longest list of books I have ever seen at:
    http://www.metronet.com/~jpe/hedge.txt

The list of hedgehog web pages pages is growing rapidly -- I've been trying
to keep pointers to most of them off my own web page, but by now I'm starting
to miss many, I'm sure.  Feel free to email me if you have one to add to
my list of pointers.

Andrew Albinger has set up a new Hedgehog Mailing List, and it rapidly
became very popular, even within the first couple of weeks that it was
operational.  You can join the list by sending email to the address:
    [email]

with the word ``subscribe'' (without the double quotes) in the body of the
message (not the subject line, though putting it there too will be
harmless).  Sending a message to the list is done by sending mail to
the following address after you are subscribed;
    [email]

You can subscribe to the digest form of the list by sending a mail message to
    [email]
with the word subscribe in the body of the email.

  REMEMBER:  Even though you are subscribed to the digest you need to send
  messages to [email].

  AND: if you respond to a digest, PLEASE only inculde the part of the
  digest that you are responding to and not the WHOLE thing.  :)
    -- Andrew Albinger

For more information about the list and commands, you can send a message to:
    [email]
with the word help in the body of the message.

In the unlikely event that you ever want to unsubscribe from either list,
simply send a message to the appropriate ``request'' address (as if you were
subscribing) but use the word ``unsubscribe'' instead of ``subscribe'' in
the text.

WARNING: The email address hedgehog at iastate.edu exists, and has nothing
to do with the Hedgehog Mailing list.  Please do NOT send messages to that
address that are intended for the listserver on penalty of extreme
embarrassment! :-)

Courtesy of PamRusso, I've also learned that AOL has a hedgehog chat session
(Pam is actually the host of the session):

   For all AOL members--We have a hedgehog chat every Wednesday night at
   8:00 [P.M.] EST.  We love to have new people stopping by.

   To get to the chat you have to get into The Pet Care Forum (keyword Pet)
   and then click on Messages and Chats  (we are in Animal Talk Room III).
   in Animal Talk Room III.

------------------------------

Subject: <2.4> How can I find a hedgehog breeder/contact in my area?

One of the best options here is to contact the International Hedgehog Fanciers
Association (IHFS) [2.7] or possibly the North American Hedgehog Association
(N.A.H.A.) [2.6] (if you can get through to them) who can probably direct you
to a reputable local breeder, and who may be the best source of information.
In addition, you can check in the yellow pages under exotic animals, or look
in the classified ads section of your local newspapers.

Hedgehogs are becoming more readily available, and are showing up in many
pet stores, and I've even heard rumours of them occasionally being available
at the pound.

Another possible lead towards finding that perfect hedgehog is to contact the
U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.).  Breeders in the U.S. are generally
supposed to be registered with the U.S.D.A.  This is generally not observed
very seriously, but is a requirement for N.A.H.A. registered breeders (at
least within the U.S.).  Still, the U.S.D.A. may be able to provide names
and addresses of large breeders in the U.S.

Depending on interest, and information, I may expand this section to
include breeder's names and addresses.

------------------------------

Subject: <2.5> Where are hedgehogs illegal?

Unfortunately, there are some locations that do not yet allow pet hedgehogs.
The best source for an accurate list of various hedgehog restrictions is the
N.A.H.A. [2.6] which had been trying to maintain an up to date list.  In
addition, the N.A.H.A. or the IHFS [2.7] can help provide guidance on how you
can enlighten any backward bureaucracies you run into.  The list below started
as a very stripped down version of the list published by the N.A.H.A. to which
I have also included additional notes thanks to people sending me information.

At the moment hedgehogs are not permitted in the U.S. in the states of
Alabama, Alaska, California, Georgia, and Utah, although I've been told that
hedgehogs are quite available in Utah (the official word there seems to be
somewhat uncertain -- possibly the same situation as existed in Idaho).

The N.A.H.A. has Idaho listed as not allowing hedgehogs, but courtesy of
some checking by Wendi Smit, it appears the law is against allowing European
hedgehogs as pets, African Pigmy hedgehogs are allowed, and are available
in Idaho.

Recently, Georgia clarified their position on hedgehogs, making them
officially illegal.  Thanks to Jerry in Atlanta for this unfortunate bit of
news.

Maryland has recently seen the light (in November of 1994 -- Woobie), and is
now legit for hedgehogs, as is Colorado.

Pennsylvania apparently has a law to protect its own animal breeders, making
it illegal to import hedgehogs into PA (which thereby manages to make it
impossible for PA breeders to legally get new stock), although PA-bred
hedgehogs are legal.  Note: the last published N.A.H.A. list appears to make
this somewhat questionable, so maybe common sense has prevailed.

Arizona is somewhat open to debate as to its status.  It appears that given
the right forms of registration, keeping hedgehogs is possible, though this
level of registration may be very difficult to obtain.

The situation in Maine appears to be somewhat odd; it's apparently legal to
own them, and to sell them privately, but not for pet stores to sell them.
My thanks to Jesse and Kris Welsh for this bit of information.

Some states also require you to go through their local Fish and Game
department (or the equivalent) to get a permit.  For example Wyoming require
this, as pointed out to me by Marcia Kautz.

In Canada most of the information I have been able to find (courtesy of John
Ofner) is that hedgehogs are permitted in all provinces except Quebec.
However, I have seen a recent magazine article which suggested that things
were about to change in Quebec in the not too distant future.

There had been conflicting reports that hedgehogs are illegal in the province
of Alberta, but it appears that this is now something for the history books.
At the very least, there are an abundance of breeders there.

Courtesy of Linda Wheatley, I finally have accurate information on the
status of hedgehogs in the province of Alberta:

   Hedgehogs are legal in Alberta but our Fish & Wildlife people are still
   requiring us to have a temporary shelter permit.  Some Fish & Wildlife
   offices are telling people that it is not necessary to get them and some
   are saying it is necessary.

In short, the letter of the law appears to be that you still need a permit,
but some jurisdictions, are simply acknowledging the reality of hedgehogs
being pets, and waiving the obvious extra workload it would cause them.

In the U.K. it appears that African Pigmy hedgehogs are allowed as pets:

   European hedgehogs are partially protected in the U.K.  Trapping them
   requires permission from the proper authorities.  However, African
   hedgehogs are commercially available.

   -- Travis Carter

It also appears that they are allowed as pets in the Netherlands, and
possibly throughout other European countries as well.

   Here in the Netherlands (and other European countries as for as I know of)
   you're allowed to keep hedgehogs.  In the Netherlands the only species
   that is not allowed to be kept, is the European hedgehog (!?).  I know
   that you are permitted to keep the European kind in Germany.  Therefore
   it's no coincidence that a lot of books about European hedgehogs are of
   German origin.  I'm not sure about regulations in other countries
   according to the E. europaeus. I think that you can keep them there,
   except for the U.K.

   (I know that they are considered to be a delicacy in Portugal and in some
   East-European countries.)

   -- Anja van der Werf

Finally, it appears that African Pigmy hedgehogs (both the white bellied
and especially the Egyptian long-eared varieties) are quite popular as pets
in Japan, and are legal there.  My thanks to Tetsuro Oka, DVM for this
information.

Again, I have no official confirmation of most of these (although the bans
listed at the beginning, of this list, are pretty certain), and you should
probably check first.  There are a number of U.S. states that require permits,
and various localities, and individual municipalities may also require special
permits.  For a detailed list of legal requirements, you should contact the
N.A.H.A. [2.6] or the IHFS [2.7].

------------------------------

Subject: <2.6> North American Hedgehog Association

Formed in 1993, the North American Hedgehog Association (N.A.H.A.) exists
to assist and guide the pet hedgehog hobby.  It is involved in such
activities as clarifying the status of hedgehogs as pets in various places
(see [2.5]), overseeing breeding registries, acting as a repository and focus
for hedgehog veterinary information, and setting up judges and standards
for hedgehog shows.  It has recently expanded, and now publishes its
magazine 6 times per year, rather than just quarterly (and has changed the
name of the publication from _The_Hedgehog_News_ to
_Hedgehog_World_International_.

The N.A.H.A. can be contacted at (address accurate as of April 1996):

       	North American Hedgehog Association Inc.
       	601 Tijeras NW #201
       	Albuquerque, New Mexico
       	U.S.A. 87102

       	Phone: (505) 842-1535 (voice mail)
       	Fax: (505) 842-8560

Here is a rough overview of the Membership options (valid as of April 1996):

   -   Subscriber:  Includes 6 issues of _Hedgehog_World_International_.  Fee
       is $25.00 U.S./year in the U.S. and $35.00 U.S./year foreign.

   -   Member:  Includes participation in the organization, 6 issues of
       _Hedgehog_World_International_, discount on advertizing, and various
       free merchandise.  Fee is $50.00 U.S./year.

   -   Registered Breeder:  Includes participation in the organization,
       access to the breeder referral network and listing, 6 issues of
       _Hedgehog_World_International_, various free merchandise (N.A.H.A.
       registered breeders in the U.S. must be U.S.D.A. registered, non-U.S.
       breeders are exempt, at least until equivalent programs can be
       determined in other countries), and numerous other items of interest
       to breeders.  Fee is $60.00 U.S./year.

Unfortunately, of late, the N.A.H.A. appears to have become rather dormant.
I don't know if all the principals have turned to other things, but they
do not appear to return phone calls (they only have a message system that
is always full) or letters, and there have been virtually no publications
from them.  While I hesitate to call them defunct, their lengthy period of
inactivity does not  bode well.

I will continue to fill in information about the N.A.H.A., here, as I
learn more about them and their services.

------------------------------

Subject: <2.7> International Hedgehog Fanciers Society

I have recently learned more details about the IHFS, which appears to be
a very well organized and growing organization.  To put it in their own
words, ``The IHFS represents hedgehog pet owners, hobbyists, and breeders
who are interested in expanding the knowledge and understanding of the
animals they love.''

In addition to producing a newsletter called ``HEDGEHOG CENTRAL,'' the IHFS
also sponsors shows, and produces standards booklets for hedgehogs and
for colours.

The International Hedgehog Fanciers Society can be contacted at:

   In Canada:
       	International Hedgehog Fanciers Society
       	Box 426
       	Keremeos, BC
       	Canada   V0X 1N0

       	Phone or Fax:  (250) 499-5143
        (note: area code has changed as of approx. Oct, 1996)

   In the U.S.:
       	International Hedgehog Fanciers Society
       	Box 1417
       	Oroville, WA
       	U.S.A.   98844-1417

Annual membership options and fees are:

       	Individual:    $50.00
       	Family:        $65.00
       	Student:       $40.00

These include:

       	- Monthly newsletter:  HEDGEHOG CENTRAL
       	- By-monthly bulletin
       	- Official Booklet of Standards, and Colour Standard
       	- Access to the Pedigree Database service
       	- Full benefits of sanctioned shows

I want to thank Doug Dorer for first passing along information on the
IHFS to me, and to an unknown person or persons at the IHFS for sending
me an information packet with all the details in it.  I will add more
information over time as I learn more about the IHFS.

------------------------------

Subject: <2.8> Other Hedgehog Organizations

Aside from the N.A.H.A. [2.6], and IHFS [2.7], there exist a number of other
organizations dedicated to hedgehogs.  Many of these organizations discussed
in this section are generally involved with the wild European hedgehogs,
rather than pet hedgehogs.

Before we get to the European hedgehog organizations, one regional outfit
to note is Hedgehogs Northwest:

   Hedgehogs Northwest is composed of pet lovers, owners, hobbyists and
   breeders who are interested in expanding the understanding and knowledge
   of hedgehogs. The club, working in conjunction with the International
   Hedgehog Fanciers Society (IHFS), has sponsored the first hedgehog
   confirmation show in the world.  We sponsored our first show on October
   22, 1995 which was such a success that we sponsored another March 24,
   1996. (These were both held in Tacoma, Washington).  We also do the
   Puyallup (Washington).  Spring and Fall Fairs as well as other shows to
   acquaint people with the specialness of our little friends.

   For membership information contact:
       	Hedgehogs Northwest
       	c/o George Kugler
       	P.O. Box 40447
       	Bellevue, WA 98015
       	(206) 828-0193

My thanks to Janet Jones for sending me the info above.

Moving on to the European hedgehog organizations, first is the British
Hedgehog Preservation Society, run by Major Adrian Cole, sent to me courtesy
of Bill Corner, Vanessa Purvis, and Seabury Salmon:

   I thought I would let you know that here in the UK there exists a
   society called ``the British Hedgehog Presevation Society'' (BHPS).
   Their address - in case you want some more info! - is:
   -- Bill Corner

       	BHPS
       	Knowbury House
       	Knowbury
       	Ludlow
       	Shropshire

       	SY8 3LQ
       	UK
       	Tel: 44 1584 890801 or 890287.

Tom Weston sent the following around about another organization dedicated to
rescuing and helping hedgehogs:

    Having looked after hedgehogs for a number of years, Janet Peto founded
    Hedgehog Welfare officially in December 1993. It is a small rescue
    centre, based in Misterton [U.K.], taking in and caring for sick, injured
    and orphaned hedgehogs. No hedgehog is ever turned away.

    The aims of Hedgehog Welfare are:

    To take in sick, injured and orphaned hedgehogs, to care for them and
    return them to the wild.

    To encourage the finders of hedgehogs to care for them wherever possible
    with full assistance from Hedgehog Welfare, including the loan of
    equipment (when available) to do so.

    To promote public awareness of the hedgehog in the wild (and of
    conservation in general) and how everyone can assist.

    To run courses which will improve the general knowledge and standards of
    carers and veterinary surgeons.

    If you would like to help or just know more about Hedgehog Welfare, its
    work, or its courses, please write:

       	  Janet Peto,
       	  Hedgehog Welfare,
       	  P.O. Box 1003,
       	  Misterton,
       	  Doncaster DN10 4JT
       	  England

    Janet has requested that when writing to her, could you possibly include
    a stamped return envelope, or at least something to cover the return
    cost.  This will serve to help ensure the funds that Hedgehog Welfare
    has will go to hedgehogs.

Barry Turner (who is the Newsletter Editor/SWRRC) contacted me recently with
info on WildAid (formerly the SWRRC):

    I help out with the Staffordshire Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation
    Centre, an animal Sanctuary at Kingsley near Cheadle, Staffordshire,
    England.

    Jonathon Hodges, the Curator, takes in large numbers of rescued, sick or
    injured hogs and hoglets throughout the year.

WildAid is a U.K. registered charitable organization which looks after sick,
injured, and otherwise endangered wildlife, primarily throughout the British
Isles, as well as now helping other Sanctuaries with advice, practical
assistance and sometimes financial help.

The address for WildAid (formerly the SWRRC) is:

       	  WildAid
       	  Sprinks - Lane Kingsley - Near Cheadle
       	  Staffordshire
       	  England        ST10 2Bx

       	  Telephone:  01538 754784
       	  Fax:        01538 756702

You can also contact them via email at:  [email]

Another group in the U.K. that look after hedgehogs are the Cleveland
Hedgehog Preservation Society (CHPS):

    The Cleveland Hedgehog Preservation Society is a British group who care
    for injured hedgehog then are release back into the wild.
    -- Donald Martin

Donald also passed along word that the CHPS have a web site which contains
an excellent overview of what to do if you encounter a hedgehog needing
assistance, at:
    http://www..doned.demon.co.uk/

Almost last, and certainly far from least (how can anything hedgehog related
be least?) is ``St. Tiggywinkle's'' hospital, etc.  The following information
on it was sent along by Willard B. ``Skip'' Nelson, DVM, with the phone
number coming from LeAnne and Adrian:

    I see that you are looking for Mrs Tiggywinkle's hospital in the UK.
    I have corresponded with Mr. Les Stocker, M.B.E. of the Wildlife
    Hospital Trust aka ``St. Tiggywinkle's'' and I can report that his
    address is

       	  Aston Road,
       	  Haddenham, Aylesbury,
       	  Buckinghamshire  HP17 8AF
       	  United Kingdom

          Telephone: (44) 1844 292292

Crossing over to the mainland of Europe, there is Norway's Hedgehog Fan
Club, known as ``Hedgehog Friends.''  I received the following information
from it's president Sigrun Seetrevik:

       	  PINNSVINENES VELFORENING
       	  C/O SIGRUN SAETREVIK
       	  DALANEVEIEN 20
       	  4015  STAVANGER
       	  NORWAY

Cost is 50 kr. (= ca.7-8 dollars) which includes their magazine (most of
the articles are in the Norwegean language, but Sigrun indicated that they
were open to articles in English as well).  You can also try contacting
him by email at:  [email]

The club is quite informal in nature, and members often get together
socially to have a good time and talk hedgehog, which belies the origins
of the club:

    The actual reason for the foundation of our organization is the
    fact that thousands of wild hedgehogs are run over by cars in the
    streets. It's really tragical to witness this. Our job should be to
    care for hedgehogs so that car drivers pay more attention. However,
    this is an almost impossible task, and therefore our ``mission'' has
    become quite ridiculous. But we won't give up!
    -- Sigrun Seetrevik:

In the Netherlands, the organization VEZ is involved with numerous types of
exotic mammals, including hedgehogs:

    The VEZ is a Dutch organization of keepers and lovers of exotic mammals.
    The main goal of the organization is gathering and spreading information
    about these animals and how to take care of them.  We coordinate
    breeding programs for different kinds of mammals.  Members are not only
    vets, zoos, breeders with a large stock of animals, genetic experts and
    so on, but people with a pair of chinchilla's, a hamster or gerbils are
    as important to us.

    We publish a magazine, four times a year, in Dutch. In the future we'll
    try to add a summary in English at the end of the articles.  Members meet
    regularly to exchange animals an experience, and to visit zoos in the
    Netherlands and abroad.

    For some animals, like hedgehogs, sugargliders and others, we have a
    contactperson who coordinates the breeding program, can give you basic
    information and show you the way in case you need more than that.

    Costs:
    Membership costs Hfl 50,- excl. bankcosts for foreign countries.
    For more information write to:

       	VEZ
       	Beetslaan 73
       	2281 TG Rijswijk
       	The Netherlands

    Contactperson for different species of hedgehogs is:

       	Anja van der Werf
       	Siriusstraat 16
       	1622 ZH Hoorn
       	Tel. 0229-246499
       	The Netherlands

       	E-mail adress: [email]

    -- Anja van der Werf

For hedgehog lovers in Sweden, I heard from Siw and Anders, who do take in
injured and sick hedgehogs, and can help with advice.  They don't have a
large organization, so please don't innundate them with questions or
hedgehogs that you can help look after yourself, but they can certainly help
out, especially if you don't know what to do and don't have anywhere to
keep a convelescent hedgehogs.  You can contact them at:

       	Siw Bjorkgren
       	Dagermansgatan 6nb
       	754 28 Uppsala
       	Sweden
       	Telefone: +46-(0)18323565

------------------------------

Subject: <2.9> Miscellaneous Hedgehog stuff and sources

This section contains information on various hedgehog things and places to
get hedgehog stuff that just doesn't easily fit into any of the more
organized categories.  In short, the things here probably mean I need to
reorganize the FAQ in some way, but either I haven't figured out how to
do it in a way I'm happy with, or I'm too lazy just yet (or maybe both).

The first item on our list of interesting stuff is the
_Spike_&_Friends_Collection_, a catalog of miscellaneous hedgehoggery,
and stuff relating to other exotic pets put out by the ``Ain't No Creek
Ranch'':

       	  Ain't No Creek Ranch
       	  2553 W Offner Road
       	  Beecher, Il
       	  U.S.A.   60401-3347

       	  email:  [email]  (new, as of late July, 1996)

       	  Phone:  (708) 534-3296
       	  Fax:    (708) 534-3277

The Spring/Summer 1996 version of this catalog is now available, with far
more things in it than the first version.  There is a $1 charge now to cover
postage and handling, but which can be redeemed with your first purchase.

The Ain't No Creek Ranch now also accepts Mastercard and Visa to make feeding
your hedgehog habit just that much easier.

If you are into pet hedgehogs or just like hedgehogs in general, this
catalog is really neat!  As a quick overview, it contains most of the
books available for pet hedgehogs, t-shirts and sweatshirts, hedgehog toys,
and toy-hedgehogs, hedgehog homes, and numerous other hedgehog novelties and
gifts.  I know that more things are on the way for Christmas, so I can only
try to imagine what will be there in the future.  They are primarily hedgehog
oriented (in fact they breed hedgehogs -- a good sign :-) ), but the catalog
also has items that are related to other exotic pets like ferrets, sugar
gliders, rheas, goats, etc.

Here's part of the welcome message from the catalog to give you a feeling of
what they are all about:

    Welcome to the first edition of the Spike and Friends Collection.
    This brochure is an outgrowth of our hedgehog mania here at Ain't No
    Creek Ranch.  In attempting to locate hedgehogabilia for ourselves --
    we found a lot of other hedgehog lovers looking for the same things.  So
    we began accumulating items as well as designing out own.  And we've even
    included books, toys, and t-shirts for a few other exotic/alternative
    animals as well.

    In addition to the catalog, we publish a quarterly newsletter, The
    Hedgehog Herald.  A one year, four issue subscription is just $4.00(US).
    Sample copies are $1.00(US).  Just write in item number HH-4 and a price
    of $1.00 for a sample, or add $4.00 in the subscription box on the order
    form for four issues.

    Dawn Wrobel
    Ain't No Creek Ranch

Disclaimer: I have no connection with the Ain't No Creek Ranch, other than as
a happy customer.  I found Dawn Wrobel to be very cheerful and pleasant to
deal with, and the items in their catalog a little too interesting to
resist.

A second hedgehog catalog is also available, called _Exclusively_Hedgehogs_.
The wonder of this is that there is virtually no overlap in what they carry
with what is in the previous catalog.  It is indeed a good time for hedgehog
lovers!  Like the _Spike_and_Friends_Collection_, _Exclusively_Hedgehogs_
carries both hedgehog pet supplies and hedgehogabilia, and is available from:

       	Exclusively Hedgehogs
       	145 S.E. Ankeny Circle
       	Portland OR.  97233-3121
       	U.S.A.

       	(503) 253-7388
       	(503) 255-7176

Among the items carried for pet hedgehogs are hedgehog food and treats, and
Roadrunner Play Safe wheels [I would recommend at least the 11'' and
preferably the 14-inch model for hedgehogs - Ed.].  They also carry the
largest selection of hedgehog figurines that I have seen.

As mentioned above, there is virtually no overlap in what is carried by
Exclusively Hedgehogs, and the Ain't No Creek Ranch, which I find quite
amazing, and an incredible bonus to ``hedgehogians'' like myself.  Aside
from a couple of the more common books being available from both, and both
carrying different brands of hedgehog wheels, everything is different.  If
you already have either catalog, the other it worth getting too.

Here's part of the introduction from their catalog:

        Welcome to our updated catalog.  We have recently traveled to
        England, France and Canada, as well as parts of the United States
        in search of new hedgehog items.  We are proud to bring you two
        new items carried exclusively by us, the Roadrunner wheel and the
        hedgehog food.  We also found some great gift items imported
        directly from England.  It would be remiss not to mention the book
        by Nigel Reeve.  It is also imported directly to Exclusively
        Hedgehogs from England.

       	Happy heggie shopping
       	Val and Julie

Disclaimer: I have no connection with the Exclusively Hedgehogs, and, as yet,
I cannot comment on service or quality, although they certainly present
themselves in a pleasant way, and what they offer does appear interesting
to anyone with an interest in hedgehogs.

Peter Captijn sends along this item of interest to European hedgehog lovers:

    Special hedgehog nest boxes are available from Garden
    Wildlife Product, 15 Malvern Buildings, Fairfield Park,
    Bath, Avon.

Another great source of hedgehogabilia comes from Penny Jackson:

    Country Artists, the people who make the wonderful hodgie statues

       	Country Artists
       	Avenue Farm
       	Stratford upon Avon
       	Warwickshire CV37 OHR
       	United Kingdom

   I am pretty sure they have a catalogue.

Finally, last and far from least, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society
[2.8] produce a _Hedgehogalog_ containing lots of great hedgehog stuff.
Contact the BHPS for more information.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


author: Brian MacNamara

subject: Hedgehog FAQ [3/5] - Intro to Hedgehogs as pets

text:
Archive-name: hedgehog-faq/part3
Posting-Frequency: monthly
Keywords: faq pet hedgehogs

Last-modified: 20 November 1996
Version: 2.19

HEDGEHOG FAQ (part 3 of 5) -- INTRO TO HEDGEHOGS AS PETS
Compiled and edited by Brian MacNamara ([email])
Additions, corrections, and suggestions for this file are welcomed.

This document is copyright 1996 by Brian MacNamara.  See section [0.5]
for authorship information and redistribution rights.  In short, you
can give it away, but you can't charge for it.

The basic Hedgehog FAQ has five parts, all of which should be available
from wherever you obtained this one.  A complete table of contents for
all five parts is given in part I.

Please note:  I am not a hedgehog expert, and I did not write, or verify,
all the information in this FAQ.  I have done my best to include only
accurate and useful information, but I cannot guarantee the correctness of
what is contained in this FAQ, regardless of the source, or even that it
will not be harmful to you or your hedgehog in some way.  For advice from
an expert, I recommend you consult the books listed in part 2 [2.1], or,
especially in the case of a suspected medical problem, a veterinarian who
is familiar with hedgehogs.

------------------------------

Subject: CONTENTS OF THIS FILE

3. *** Introduction to hedgehogs ***

   <3.1> What are hedgehogs?  Should I get one?  What's good and bad
         about them as pets?
   <3.2> Are hedgehogs wild animals?
   <3.3> What's the average hedgehog lifespan?
   <3.4> I'm allergic to cats.  Will I be allergic to hedgehogs?
   <3.5> Do hedgehogs smell?
   <3.6> Do hedgehogs have tails?
   <3.7> Hedgehog monikers -- what do I call a hedgehog?
   <3.8> Her-hog or Him-hog?  What sex is Prickles?

4. *** Getting a pet hedgehog ***

   <4.1> Which types/colours are there?  Male or female?  What age?
   <4.2> How many should I get?
   <4.3> How can I introduce my hedgehog to my (dog/cat/bird/fish/
         rabbit/etc.) with the least trouble?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

3. *** Introduction to hedgehogs ***

------------------------------

Subject: <3.1> What are hedgehogs?  Should I get one?  What's good and bad
               about them as pets?

Hedgehogs are small insectivores looking much like an upside-down oval bowl,
that is covered with sharp quills, with an adorable little face and ears
peeking out from one end.  Neither legs nor tail are very visible during
normal movement.  Hedgehogs roll into a ball of projecting spines when
threatened, leaving themselves all but invulnerable to any natural predator.

Hedgehogs do have soft fur on their faces and bellies, and so are not
entirely prickly.

Some hedgehogs have what appears to be a narrow reverse Mohawk hairdo
(a narrow furrow that runs lengthwise), though this is not present in all
species (e.g. the Egyptian hedgehog doesn't have this).

    It isn't a scar, they haven't lost quills.  It is natural and helps
    the quills point forward without getting crossed when they bristle.
    -- Katherine Long

Running in size from approximagely 4 to 9 inches in length, mature African
Pigmy hedgehogs look for all the world to be little armoured tanks being lead
around by one of the busiest noses in the animal kingdom.

Hedgehogs tend to be quite nervous in their temperament, and will generally
duck their head down, accompanied by rapid snuffling or snorting.  This
presents a very prickly forehead to any possible enemies.  The more used to
you (and awake) a hedgehog is, the less they will duck down and snuffle, and
the more their quills will be flat.

The following is largely verbatim from Nathan Tenny and gives a good detailed
description of pet hedgehogs:

    The ``African pigmy or dwarf hedgehog'' that's appeared on the pet market
    is a Central African species, also called the white-bellied hedgehog,
    and possibly the same as the Cape hedgehog or Pruner's hedgehog.
    Hedgehog taxonomy is kind of a mess, and they have multiple Latin names;
    the leader now seems to be _Erinaceus albiventris_, but one also sees
    _Atelerix albiventris_ and _Atelerix pruneri_.  (I think that Pruner's
    hedgehog is now considered to be a separate species, but it hasn't
    always been.)  There may be some overlap with _Erinaceus frontalis_
    as well, and just to complicate matters, older works refer to the genus
    _Atelerix_ as _Aethechinus_.  The African hedgehog is related to the
    European hedgehog, but is much smaller (and more tropical, of course).

    Grzimek's Animal Encyclopedia says that they weigh about 200-220 grams
    (about seven ounces); this is for wild animals.  Captives seem to be
    much larger; the smallest of our three hedgehogs is 250 g and growing,
    and our large male weighs about 400-450 g when he isn't overweight.
    (However, all our animals have come from exceptionally large bloodlines.)
    Adults are about six to eight inches long, depending on how far they're
    stretching when you measure.

    Hedgehogs are basically nocturnal; they may wake up a couple of times
    during the day to wander around their enclosures, get a snack or a drink
    of water, and so on, but they really get active late at night (ours wake
    up between 10 PM and midnight, but that may be because that's when we
    turn the lights off).

    Whether they have wonderful personalities depends on your taste.  Your
    prospective hedgehog will sleep all day, and, while it may well become
    quite sociable when awake, it probably will not let you pick it up when
    it wants to sleep.  (Can you blame it?  More to the point, can you argue
    with it?)  We've never met an African hedgehog that would bite
    aggressively, though there are rumours of such.  (Note that all the
    Africans we've known have been not only captive-bred but hand-raised
    from infancy; we make no guarantees about imports or non-socialised
    animals.)  They do explore with their mouths, so if you smell
    interesting, you may get licked or nipped; they have fairly sharp teeth
    (a row of short pegs with points, but nothing drastic).

As pets go, hedgehogs are generally not cuddly lap-fungus type pets, but
if you want something that's a little different, not too big, and
definitely adorable, then maybe a hedgehog is for you.  If, however, you
have been fascinated by hedgehogs for about fifteen years, like I have,
there is just no question.

Among their pros and cons, you should keep in mind the nocturnal nature of
hedgehogs.  If you are a night-owl, or often find yourself up and around
during the dark hours, a hedgehog can be a very welcome companion.  On the
other hand, if you jump out of bed early in the morning and fade with the
sun, you and your hedgehog may never see one another.

Although most hedgehogs rarely if ever bite or nip, it does happen, as
can occur with any animal.  For information on biting see section [6.7]

Hedgehogs are also quite low maintenance (though not ``no maintenance'').
There's no need to take them out for a walk around the block in the middle
of a raging blizzard, or head off to the park, pooper-scooper in hand,
during a heat wave, with a hedgehog.  Their small, but not too small, size
also makes for a good compromise.

Then there's always the one really effective decision factor:  hedgehogs
are irresistibly CUTE!

------------------------------

Subject: <3.2> Are hedgehogs wild animals?

This depends on whether or not you are talking about African Pigmy hedgehogs
or European hedgehogs.  In the case of European hedgehogs, the answer is,
of course, yes.  In the case of the African Pigmy variety, the ones being
offered and kept as pets are now well removed from their wild ancestors.
In parts of Europe, some African pigmy hedgehogs are still being imported,
which results in this being a more grey area.

As Nathan Tenny pointed out [3.1], the hedgehogs available as pets are
a captive bred African species.  These have been bred in captivity
for over a dozen years.  As such, they should not be confused with the
European variety that are essentially wild animals (and are protected in
most European countries).  It is somewhat unlikely that a pet hedgehog could
survive very long in the wild, especially in the colder parts of North
America, which seems to be where they are most popular.  The chance does,
however exist and needless to say, finding out whether or not they can is
an experiment best left to theory, rather than practice.

------------------------------

Subject: <3.3> What's the average hedgehog lifespan?

The absolute answer to the question of how long hedgehogs can live is that
nobody is really certain.

The average lifespan for African pigmy hedgehogs in captivity runs from
6-10 years.  From what I have read, this is already far better than the
average of 2-3 years in the wild (though this is due more to predation
than to old age).

African pigmy hedgehogs have not been kept in captivity for many years
as yet -- that along with the fact that we are still in the early stages
of learning how best to care for them, is likely to allow their longevity
to continue to increase over the upcoming years.

In addition to the care helping in this, the fact that hedgies are
starting to settle down and become much less nervous will likely also
help considerably.

All in all, their lifespan is quite long compared to many smaller mammals,
which means that there's a good chance you can continue to get along with
your prickly little pal for many happy years.

------------------------------

Subject: <3.4> I'm allergic to cats.  Will I be allergic to hedgehogs?

The short answer here is, probably not.

The main reason for being allergic to cats is because of the dander, not
the hair.  When a cat 'bathes' itself, it deposits a coating of saliva
over its fur.  It is this coating turned to an extremely fine dust that
is the cause of most allergies to cats.  While hedgehogs do not generally
do this (other than when self-anointing [7.1]), it is not inconceivable
that a person could be allergic to almost any animal.

I would suggest that if you have severe allergies to cats (or any other
animal), you find a friend who has hedgehogs and visit them where they
keep their hedgehogs to see whether any reaction occurs.  Note:  if your
allergic reactions are serious enough, you may want to discuss it with
a doctor first, and/or take precautions in case a reaction occurs.

In almost every case I have heard of where a person appears to be allergic
to a hedgehog, the actual culprit is often the bedding, rather than the
animal.  Most forms of bedding are dusty to some degree or other, and are
much more prone to causing problems than the hedgehogs themselves are.
If you suspect this might be a problem to you, there are various forms of
bedding you can experiment with (such as corncob litter, products like
CareFRESH, or even good old fashioned dirt or gravel) that have much lower
levels of dust than most wood fiber bedding products.

------------------------------

Subject: <3.5> Do hedgehogs smell?

People who have had experience with small pet rodents, or with ferrets
seem to ask this question most often.  Hedgehogs do not have scent glands
like ferrets, and as long as their cage or pen is kept reasonably clean
there is generally no odour at all.  Most (some?) hedgehogs can be trained
to use a litter box, making the task of keeping the cage clean that much
easier.  Even those that don't adapt to using a litter box will often use
one area of their cage or pen for this which assists in cleaning.

While hedgehogs do generally have little in the way of odour, what you
feed them can affect whether or not their droppings smell.  Generally the
more ``wet'' food you feed a hedgehog, the more their droppings, and their
environment will smell, although brands and types of food can have as great
an effect as just wet versus dry foods.  Also, Pretty Pets hedgehog food is
has been reported to result in smellier than average droppings [6.2].

If you are finding your hedgehog pen tends to smell, try changing the blend
of food he is getting, or just clean house on him a bit more often.

------------------------------

Subject: <3.6> Do hedgehogs have tails?

Yes, but barely.  Most hedgehogs have only a pointed little nub of tail
that spends almost all of its time hidden under the quills.  This leaves
the poor hedgehog looking for all the world like he doesn't have a tail.

Here are a few interesting words from Katherine Long on hedgehog tails:

    My hhog, Ambergris, uses her tail - it isn't a useless appendage.
    She uses it as a pusher when she is trying to go underneath stuff.
    Strange and wondrous.

------------------------------

Subject: <3.7> Hedgehog monikers -- what do I call a hedgehog?

I can think of a lot of things here -- especially when Velcro has closed
up on my fingers, again!  However I will try to keep this civil.

This section is more for amusement than much else, and to keep track of
some of the ways people refer to our prickly little friends.  Probably
the most popular one I've seen of late is ``hedgies'' with ``hhog'' running
a close second.  I would argue that the first is probably more pronounceable
but they both pale in comparison to the following from Cathy Johnson-Delaney
who contentedly referred to her FussGus as a ``Tribble from Hell.''

With the media's love of ridiculous catchy names, it probably comes as no
surprise that the term ``Yuppie Puppy'' has begun to appear in some places
(including the N.A.H.A.?!?!) applied to hedgehogs.

While I'm on the subject, baby hedgehogs are usually referred to as
``hoglets'' or ``hedgehoglets'', or more frequently as ``aren't they so
CUTE!''  The term piglet seems to be used quite frequently in Europe, and
sometimes elsewhere as well.

I don't know if an official term exists for a group of hedgehogs (other than
maybe a ``contradiction-in-terms'' since hedgehogs often don't tend to live
in what we would consider groups.  The official name for a group of hogs is a
``drift'' but I question if that applies to hedgehogs.  Most breeders appear
to refer to their hedgehogs as a ``herd'' but I have to admit the thought of
trying to ``herd'' hedgehogs strikes me as somewhat ridiculous to say the
least!

------------------------------

Subject: <3.8> Her-hog or Him-hog?  What sex is Prickles?

One question I get asked a lot, and I haven't the slightest clue why
I didn't add the answer here earlier, is how do you tell what sex a
hedgehog is.

Unfortunately, hedgehogs don't come with blue or pink tipped quills to make
the job easy.  (At least most dont.  Some breeders add a spot of non-toxic
paint, etc., but even that's no guarantee.  There have been more than a few
people who brought home ``male'' hedgies, only to have them give birth to a
litter, only a short time later.)  In fact, it can be downright difficult,
to figure out the sex, unless your hedgehog is willing to let hold him or her
on their back long enough for a look.  The idea is to get a good look at
their tummy.  If you can't get your prickly little friend to unroll enough
while being held in your hands, you might try a piece of glass or clear
plastic and look up at them while they are wandering (hopefully not too far)
on it.

Anyway, enough beating about the quills, on to how to tell if you have a
her-hog, or a him-hog.

For male hedgehogs, the sex organ is located about 2/3 of the way from the
nose to the tail (along the tummy), and looks like a large belly-button.

In the female, the sex organ is located all the way down the tummy, directly
adjacent to the anus.  The female will also have a row of nipples along
each side, below the quill line, within the soft tummy fur.  These are
often hard to see, but do show as small pink spots, if you have the chance
to look carefully.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

4. *** Getting a pet hedgehog ***

------------------------------

Subject: <4.1> Which types/colours are there?  Male or female?  What age?

There are generally three varieties of hedgehogs that are available
as pets:  African dwarf or pigmy (white-bellied) hedgehogs, Pruner's
(Cape) hedgehogs, and Egyptian (long-eared) hedgehogs.

Of these three, the first two are similar in appearance and temperament.
African pigmy and Pruner's hedgehogs tend to be very well behaved, and will
rarely, if ever, nip an owner, but like with any animal, given the right
(or wrong) circumstances, it can happen (see [3.1] for advice on biting).

African pigmy (white-bellied) hedgehogs tend to have a whitish or light
coloured face, while Pruner's hedgehogs have a darker or masked face.  The
real difference, though is in the number of toes on the hind feet:  Pruner's
hedgehogs have five like most hedgehogs, while the White Bellied hedgehog
(the one we most often refer to as the African Pigmy hedgehog) is also known
as the Four-toed hedgehog for obvious reasons (but only the hind feet).

Egyptian or long-eared hedgehogs (the ears being the most obvious
differentiating factor) are, however, known for having a somewhat more
aggressive personality, and will frequently nip or bite, as suggested here
by Nathan Tenny:

    [Cerebus] (one of Nathan's former troupe -- ed.) is an Egyptian hedgehog
    (_Hemiechinus auritus_).  The [care instructions in this FAQ also]
    apply to him, but his personality is rather different.  There aren't
    many on the market as yet, but they're distinguishable by their
    loooong ears.  They are extremely cute animals, very active and
    seemingly rather intelligent, but they *really* bite, and are not
    recommended as cuddly pets!  We hand-raised Cerebus from a very young
    age, playing with him a lot in hopes of making him comfortable with
    us, but to no avail; as he's reached adulthood, being comfortable has
    come to mean that he's not scared to bite us.  Oops.

This behaviour has been confirmed by Anja van der Werf, who has also pointed
out that in spite of this, they are generally more popular as pets in Europe
than are White-Bellied or Pruner's hedgehogs.

Regarding colour, most hedgehogs are covered with white and grey or brown
ticked quills (sometimes called salt and pepper coloured, or more officially,
agouti), however, there are some hedgehogs known as ``snowflakes'' available.
These are generally all white, or almost all white, but do not possess the
albino gene.  Albino hedgehogs also exist, and apparently the early problems
with them being unhealthy and not terribly robust, are now largely a thing
of the past.  In addition, there are a number of new colours coming out,
which are officially recognized (at least by the IHFS [2.7]).  The official
IHFS list currently consists of:

       	- Grey
       	- Cinnamon
       	- Grey Snowflake (Silver)
       	- Cinnamon Snowflake,
       	- White
       	- Albino, and
       	- Black

Prospective hedgehog owners should beware of large areas of white quills
amongst what looks like normal colouration as this can indicate an animal
that was injured at some point (quills that regrow in injury areas tend
to be all white).  Not all hedgehogs showing white patches have necessarily
been injured; there are some colour patterns starting to show up involving
white patches, but this is a point of caution.

I recently received the following list of colours and descriptions from
Christi Cantrell that she acquired from a breeder in Texas:

       	Salt and Pepper (normal colouring)
       	Snowflakes      (75% white)
       	Whites          (90% white)
       	Cinnamons       (light brown)
       	Creams          (light beige/ivory, ruby eyes)

It seems pretty clear that diversity in hedgehog colours is beginning to
show up.  While the last on the list (Creams) certainly seem to be a variety
of albino (which wasn't actually listed, so they may be the same, just under
a different name), the rest appear to be actual colouration differences.

As far as personality goes, it has historically been thought that females
are generally friendlier than males, and will become familiar with a new
owner more quickly.  This, however, appears to be primarily a result of how
a lot of breeders handle their animals -- males are usually not handled as
much, and hence are not as gentled down.  Properly handled when they are
young, there is little or no personality difference between sexes.  Being
friendly generally means their quills will be laid back smoother, and they
will have less of a tendency to roll into a ball.

Females tend to be more expensive, both because of their perceived
friendliness, and because of their ability to produce more hedgehogs.
Breeders usually keep a ratio of several females for each male, which makes
for a higher quantity of males available as pets, and hence another reason
for the usually cheaper selling price of males.  Males on the other hand, do
tend to self-anoint [7.1] more often than females, and this amazing feat of
dexterity is something not to be missed!

The unusual colour varieties, such as snowflakes, were originally considered
to be somewhat more high-strung in temperament than the more common salt and
pepper hedgehogs.  From what I have been able to determine, this is not
directly related to the colour, but is more a side-effect of the inbreeding
done to try and propagate the special colouring.  In any case, temperament is
going to depend largely on both the breeding, and on the type and amount of
handling, rather than the exact colouration.

It appears there is another way to create a different colour hedgehog ...
while not quite in the same genre as the colourations above, one of the
people I've been in touch with on the net (whose name I will withhold to
avoid potential embarrassment) passed along a story to me.  This kind hearted
hedgehog addict once fed her little herd of hedgies a treat of strained
carrots (baby food) one night along with their normal food.  The hedgehogs
seemed to find this new item interesting and proceeded to munch on it, then,
as hedgehogs will do, they all self-anointed.  My friend thought nothing of
it, other than that hedgehogs don't really like strained carrots.  In the
morning, however, when the light wasn't quite so dim, my friend (who is
probably a lifelong enemy by now) discovered an entire small herd of very
``orange'' hedgehogs!  There it is folks -- the latest in hedgehog fashion --
the Orange Hedgehog.  I have since learned from friends and relatives with
small children, that few things come close to strained carrots in staining
ability, so I can well imagine that the effect of this was pretty amazing.
I know I'll probably be blacklisted for life for adding this, but it was much
too good to resist!  ;-)

To compound the trouble I've gotten into above, I have also heard of another
kind hearted hedgie addice who offered her hedgehogs a treat of raspberries.
Come morning, once she realized they weren't showing the results of a vicious
fight and that the `blood' was nothing more than two seriously
raspberry-annoited hedgies, it too, became time for a hogwash.  It seems you
can create an amazing variety of impromptu colours (and flavours) of
hedgehogs! ;-)

The best age to acquire a pet hedgehog is shortly after they have been
weaned (after about 6-8 weeks of age).  Hedgehogs are completely independent
by this stage, and adapt to new owners much more readily when young.  This
doesn't mean that an older hedgehog won't become used to you and friendly
towards you, it will just take a little longer and a little more patience.

Although hedgehogs can breed as early as 6-8 weeks, they should not be bred
(especially females) until at least 4-6 months of age, and preferably about
8+ months, when they become fully mature, both physically and mentally.
Hedgehogs that have litters too early may not become good mothers, or may
experience a shorter lifespan as a result.

------------------------------

Subject: <4.2> How many should I get?

Hedgehogs have historically been considered solitary creatures, that do not
particularly get along well together, and in fact only like to be close to
one another during mating.  This now appears to be changing, with many
breeders keeping at least females together in groups, and in some cases
even males.  I don't know whether this is the result of African Pigmy
hedgehogs taming down as a species, or whether they were always a bit
more social than we gave them credit for.  In any case, keeping same
sex groups together can tend to be just fine, though it is always
important to keep an eye open for problems.  Kept together, hedgehogs
will often curl up together to sleep, and if one is quite young, it might
treat an older one as if it were its parent, and follow it around -- an
adorable site to see.

One of factors that helps in keeping groups of hedgehogs together is to
provide adequate space.  If things are too crowded, you can usually count
on fights (gee, that almost sounds like elementary school...).

All that having been said, hedgehogs are quite happy when kept individually,
and don't seem to miss the company of other hedgehogs.  There is no problem
with having only a single hedgehog as a pet.

Keeping a male within vision of a mother with hoglets (even if in separate
enclosures) can often result in the babies being eaten.  If you do want
more than one hedgehog, be sure you provide plenty of privacy for each.

    Of course, opposite-sex pairs are a definite no-no unless you want babies.
    -- Nathan Tenny

------------------------------

Subject: <4.3> How can I introduce my hedgehog to my (dog/cat/bird/fish/
               rabbit/etc.) with the least trouble?

In what limited experience I've had, I have seen no problem with interaction
between hedgehogs and other pets -- my wife and I have four (+1) cats (Kit &
Caboodle, Oreo, Snickers, and for now Scrapper) in addition to Velcro, Hocus
and Pocus, our hedgehogs.  Velcro thinks the cats would make nice mealtime
treats and chases them whenever possible, while Hocus and Pocus take little
notice of the cats, other than an occasional duck of the head and a snuffling
session.  For their part, the cats have only shown peaceful curiosity towards
the hedgehogs.  The occasional very careful paw will reach out and almost,
but not quite touch one of the hedgehogs.  The cats seem to know that these
snuffling little armoured tanks are actually animated pincushions that would
hurt if they really connected.  For his part, Velcro has actually shoved the
largest cat (16+ lbs!) out of the way with nothing more than a slightly
indignant look from the cat.

Aside from this, I imagine that it will really depend on the personality
of your other pet(s).  I would expect more aggressive cats/dogs to try
nipping at or swatting at a new hedgehog (an action that is unlikely to be
repeated by any animal with the ability to learn from its mistakes).
Hedgehogs are admirably well protected -- the worry is ``how safe are your
other pets?''

As long as you supervise the first few encounters between your hedgehog and
your other pets, there should be no problem in either direction.  The only
time there should be cause for worry is if one or more of your other pets
could potentially be food in the eyes of your hedgehog (such as pet
mealworms?).

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


author: Wolfram v.Kiparski

subject: rec.models.rockets FAQ Part 00 - Introduction and TOC

text:
Archive-name: model-rockets/intro
Rec-models-rockets-archive-name: rockets-faq/part00-intro
Posting-Frequency: weekly
Last-modified: 1997 April 26
URL: http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/rmrfaq.toc.html

  INTRODUCTION TO REC.MODELS.ROCKETS AND THIS FAQ

  Rec.models.rockets (r.m.r) is a Usenet newsgroup oriented towards
  discussions and topics related to non-professional rocketry of all types.
  All questions, comments, and ongoing discussions related to non-professional
  rocketry are welcome.

  This FAQ (list of Frequently Asked Questions) is an attempt to compile a
  number of questions and suggestions that have been repeatedly posted to
  r.m.r into a single, quickly readable document.  This document was NOT
  meant to be a 'how to' on any form of non-professional rocketry  It's hoped
  that it might be of use in answering some of the more commonly asked questions,
  summarizing some good tips and suggestions, and directing the reader to
  other documents, books, sources, etc., where more information may be found.
  However, the FAQ has evolved into something monstrous (and very informative).
  For this reason, only this introduction and the first three sections of the
  FAQ will be regularly posted.  The entire FAQ will make its appearance on
  r.m.r. from time to time, and as some frequently asked questions start
  appearing in great numbers.
    The entire FAQ is available on the web, and by anonymous FTP at the
  rec.models.rockets archive (see addresses elsewhere).
    This FAQ is organized as a list of primary topics (see the Table of
  Contents below) with a number of questions and answers under each.  The
  majority of this document deals with, but is not limited to, consumer
  rocketry in the United States and Canada.

    This entire FAQ is available on the web!!!  All 14 Sections of it!!!
        HTML version of the entire FAQ:
            http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/rockets/rmrfaq.toc.html

     The address to the rec.models.rockets archive is:
            http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/archives/rec.models.rockets/RMRFAQ

     If you don't have access to the web, the FAQ is retrievable by
      anonymous FTP, also at the same address:

            sunsite.unc.edu/pub/archives/rec.models.rockets
  --------------------------------------
  COPYRIGHT NOTICE

  This entire FAQ is copyright (c) 1996, 1997 Wolfram von Kiparski, editor.
  Portions of this FAQ may also have additional copyrights.
  Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this
  FAQ, provided that you conspicuously and appropriately include
  on each copy an appropriate copyright notice, including those portions
  of the FAQ that have additional copyright notices.  Changing, editing,
  or otherwise modifying this FAQ for redistribution is not allowed without
  permission from the editor of this FAQ.  Distribution of this FAQ for profit,
  promotional, or other commercial use is not allowed without permission
  from the editor of this FAQ.
  --------------------------------------
  POSTING FREQUENCY

  The entire FAQ is posted to rec.models.rockets every month.  A shorter
  version comprised of this Introduction and Sections #1, #2, and #3 are posted
  every week or so.   The entire FAQ is available by anonymous FTP at the
  rec.models.rockets archive located at sunsite.unc.edu at the following URL:

  http://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/archives/rec.models.rockets/FAQ

  This site is busy, and restricts the number of anonymous logins.  If you
  experience difficulty with accessing the r.m.r. archive, try again later,
  preferably during off-peak hours, Eastern Standard Time.
  --------------------------------
  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  This document was originally compiled (with much help from many others)
  by Buzz McDermott and Jack Hagerty.  This document is now maintained and
  edited by Wolfram v.Kiparski with a lot of help from others.  This FAQ would
  not be possible without the constant flow of tips, suggestions, and sound
  advice from the readership of rec.models.rockets.
  Comments, corrections and suggestions for additions are welcomed and encouraged.
  Please send your suggestions to:

      Wolfram v.Kiparski      [email]

  or send them to the editor of the portion of the FAQ for which you have
  a comment. The FAQ editors are:

  Part 01:    Buzz McDermott   ([email])
  Part 02:    Wolfram v.Kiparski   ([email])
  Part 03:    Wolfram v.Kiparski
  Part 04:    Wolfram v.Kiparski
  Part 05:    Wolfram v.Kiparski
  Part 06:    Robert C. Santore  ([email])
  Part 07:    Peter Alway  ([email])
  Part 08:    Bob Kaplow   ([email])
  Part 09:    Wolfram v.Kiparski
  Part 10:    Wolfram v.Kiparski
  Part 11:    Wolfram v.Kiparski
  Part 12:    Jerry Irvine   ([email])
  Part 13:    Canada:         John LeBlanc <[email]>
              Australia:      Rob Masters   ([email])
              United Kingdom: Alex Seltsikas ([email])
              New Zealand:    who knows?
              Germany:        Stefan Wimmer   ([email])
  Part 14:    Wolfram von Kiparski
  -------------------------------------------

    ***** PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING *****

  Many of the tips and suggestions included in this FAQ include references to
  particular companies and/or products.  Opinions expressed are those of the
  submitters.  Several submitters have asked that readers do not request
  the company names and addresses from them.  PLEASE refer to Part 2 of the
  FAQ or a recent issue of one of the rocketry magazines.  You may also post
  an address request to r.m.r., but be forewarned that you may get chastised
  if you have failed to read the FAQ, or one of the other sources of addresses,
  first.  Most of the submitters are happy to answer questions about their ideas
  and suggestions, but PLEASE don't ask them for names and addresses of
  suppliers.  Check this FAQ first.

  -----------------------------------------
  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS
  REC.MODELS.ROCKETS  FREQUENTLY  ASKED  QUESTIONS

###PART 01:  GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1  What, exactly, is a 'model rocket' versus a 'high power' rocket?  Where do
        liquid fueled and homemade rocket motors fit in?  What about amateur rockets?
1.2  NFPA, FAA, DOT, ... Who are all these organizations and how do they
        affect the rocketry hobby?
1.3  What is the current legal status of model and high power rocketry in the U.S.?
1.4  I would like to get into Large Model Rockets. What are my options?
         Who has NAR certified E, F and G motors today?
1.5  Is the proper term rocket 'engine' or rocket 'motor'?
1.6  What do the letters and numbers on a model rocket motor mean?
1.7  What is a CATO?  Is it CATO pronounced KAY-TO or CAT-O?
1.8  When a consumer rocket motor fails (i.e., CATOs) does it explode or
        detonate?
1.9  Why don't I just make my own model rocket motors?  Shouldn't I be able
        to custom-make better, more powerful motors at a cheaper price?

### PART 02: NAMES AND ADDRESSES

2.1  National rocketry organizations
2.2  Rocketry manufacturers and suppliers
     2.2.1  Model and High Power Rocket Manufacturers
             kits/motors/supplies/etc.
     2.2.2  Electronics/Recovery Systems/Other Rocketry Components and Supplies
     2.2.3  Miscellaneous suppliers of raw materials, supplies, and equipment
     2.2.4  Mail Order Vendors
     2.2.5  Sources for Out-of-Production Model Rocket Kits
     2.2.6  Books/Videos/Computer Software/Technical References
     2.2.7  International (outside U.S.A.) rocketry sources
2.3  Rocketry books
2.4  Rocketry magazines

### PART 03: ROCKETRY ON THE INTERNET

3.1   How do I get to the r.m.r archive site?
3.2   What is available from the r.m.r archive?
3.3   How do I upload files to the r.m.r. archive?
3.4   What if I don't have ftp or www access? Can I still get to files from the
         r.m.r archive?
3.5   I have read-only access to r.m.r.  Is there any way I can still post
        articles to the newsgroup?
3.6   What are .ps files?  How can I read them?
3.7   What are some neat rocketry web pages to check out?

### PART 04: BORN-AGAIN ROCKETEERS

4.1   What the heck is a BAR, 'Born Again Rocketeer'?
4.2   I have been out of model rockets for many (i.e. <nn>+) years now.
      What been happening in the hobby over the past couple of decades?
      What's new? What's gone?
         4.2.1    Who's Left, Who's Not & Who's New
         4.2.2   Changes in Motor Technology
         4.2.3   Competition
         4.2.4   High Power Rocketry
         4.2.5   Electronics Advancements
         4.2.6   Regulations, Regulations, Regulations
4.3   Are my old rocket kits worth anything today?
4.4   Where can I find plans of old kits?

### PART 05: MODEL ROCKETRY

5.1    Can I legally fly model rockets in my state?  What are the restrictions?
5.2    When do I need to notify the FAA before flying a large model rocket?
5.3    I have a son/daughter that is (less than 9) years old.  Is this too
       young for model rocketry?  If not, are there any tips for helping to
        keep their interest in the hobby?
5.4    Is there any way I can buy model rocket kits, parts and engines at less
        than full retail?
5.5    I've had a large number of motors CATO recently.  The engines are only
        about 2 years old.  I've had them stored in my (attic/garage/basement).
5.6    Is it safe to use my old rocket engines from <nn> years ago?
5.7    What's a good way to find other rocket enthusiasts in my area?  How can
       I found out about local rocket clubs?
5.8    Are the Aerotech composite motors the same size as Estes/MRC/Quest
       motors?
5.9    Can I use Aerotech or other composite motors in my Estes rockets?
5.10    Will my Estes launch system work with Aerotech composite motors?
5.11   Can I use Aerotech composite motors as boosters in my multi-stage
        rockets?
5.12   How can I tell the age of my Estes motors?
5.13   Are reloadable model rocket motors shippable the same as disposable
        model rocket motors?
5.14   My flying field is so small I keep losing my rockets.  What can I do?
5.15   Are Jetex engines still available?  Where can I get them?
5.16   BT-20, BT-50, BT-55.  What the heck do the numbers mean on Estes body
       tubes?  Is their any special meaning in these numbers?
5.17   I've seen mention of all kinds of rocket motor types and sizes.  Could
       you give a brief history and summary of the main marketing names for
       model rocket motors?
5.18   Why don't I just make my own model rocket motors?  Shouldn't I be able
       to custom-make better, more powerful motors at a cheaper price?

### PART 06: ROCKET CONSTRUCTION AND FINISHING TIPS

6.1    Cutting, Sealing, Attaching Fins
6.2    Body Tubes (Cutting, Joining, Filling)
6.3    I'm fed up with tangled plastic parachutes with broken shroud lines. How
         can I improve on the standard chutes, or make my own?
6.4    Alternatives to Recovery Wadding
6.5    Are there any good tips when making my own nose cones?
6.6    Getting Paint to Stick to LOC and Aerotech Nose Cones
6.7    Is it possible to get a high gloss, durable finish on a model rocket?
6.8    Are there any good paints for silver details on scale models?
6.9    How can I prevent a rocket painted white from yellowing?
6.10   Which is better, white or yellow glue? Epoxy? Cyano?
6.11   Improving on the Estes Shock Cord Mount
6.12   I've built several BT-80 based models. How can I strengthen future
        models to take larger motors, such as Aerotech 24mm or 29mm reloads?
6.13   How can I prevent balsa fins from breaking off on landing (especially
        for models with swept fins)?
6.14   I just lost my favorite rocket and the kit is discontinued.  How can I
         make another one just like it?
6.15  How can I reduce damage to the booster stage of two stage models caused
      by the engine exhaust of the second stage?
6.16  Is there a way to increase the stability of nearly finless models?
6.17  How can I build a rocket with less wind resistance?

### PART 07: SCALE MODELING

7.1   I would like to make a scale model of the <??> rocket. Where do I
         start looking for technical data, dimensions, flight substantiation data, etc.?
7.2   What are some specific sources for general scale data?
7.3   I've never built any scale models. Are there any recommended kits for
         first timers?
7.4   What other scale/sport scale kits are available? I'd like to build
         another kit or two before tackling a scratch scale project.
7.5   O.K., I've done all my research, collected all the data I can.
         I've even built a couple of scale kits a a warm up. Now I'm ready
         to build a model I can be proud of. How do I...?
7.6   What tools do I need?
7.7   Where can I get more information on modeling techniques?
7.8   Got any tips for generating scale plans from original dimensions?

### PART 08: BOOST GLIDERS AND ROCKET GLIDERS

8.1 R/C Rocket Gliders
    8.1.1  Have there been any construction reviews of R/C rocket gliders?
    8.1.2  I'm building the 'XXX' R/C Rocket Glider and it uses foam core wings.
           Are there any  things I should know about working with foam?
    8.1.3  Any tips for sheeting the wings on my Aerotech Phoenix?
    8.1.4  How about help with my Estes Astroblaster wings?
    8.1.5  How do you repair damaged foam wings?
    8.1.6  Some more uses of foam in rocketry...
    8.1.7  I need to cut the piano wire control rods.  Bolt cutters don't work
           well, as the metal is too hard.  Any ideas?
8.2 Free Flight Boost and Rocket Gliders
    8.2.1  What is the difference between a Boost/Glider and a Rocket/Glider?
    8.2.2  What are some types of gliders?
    8.2.3  What are all these funny names I see referenced?
    8.2.4  I'm just starting. What kits or plans are available?
    8.2.5  Why do most gliders have the rudder under the fuselage?
    8.2.6  These things are very different from what I've built before.
           Are there any tips for building them?
    8.2.7  Should I paint my glider?
    8.2.8  Can I convert a hand launched glider (HLG) to rocket power?
    8.2.9  I'd like to design my own glider. How do I know if it will work?
           How do I compute the CP for a glider?
    8.2.10 What motor should I use to fly my glider?
    8.2.11 This thing looks weird sitting on the pad.
           How do I launch a glider?
    8.2.12 My glider looped and crashed into the ground. What is wrong?
    8.2.13 My glider shredded. What is wrong?
    8.2.14 The pod stuck on my boost/glider and the thing crashed. What is wrong?
    8.2.15 My glider glides like the space shuttle (or worse). What is wrong?
    8.2.16 My glider never came down and flew away. What is wrong?
    8.2.17 References: (kits, books, publications, catalogs)

### PART 09: COMPETITION AND RECORDS

9.1   I would like to get into competition.  I would prefer to start with kits rather than
        designing and building my own.  Are there any manufacturers making kits specifically
        designed for competition?
9.2   What are the major categories of competition model rocketry?
9.3    What are some good events to try when first getting into competition?  Any 'sage'
          advice?
9.4    What is a 'piston' launcher?  Does it really help?
9.5    Aside from hanging around 'old timers', how can I learn more about competition
         strategies and techniques without re-inventing the wheel many times over?
9.6    Tripoli Altitude Records
9.7    NAR Altitude Records
9.8    Some Unofficial High Power Altitude Attempts
9.9    Biggest Non-metallic Rocket Flights
9.10  Other Non-professional Flights of Note
9.11  Some other highest verified altitudes

### PART 10: HIGH POWER ROCKETRY

10.1   I'm a successful model rocketeer.  What do I need to get into HPR?
10.2   What are the major differences between model and high power rockets,
           besides size and engines?  Are they built differently?
10.3   How do I get high power certified?
10.4   What is a 'reloadable' motor.  Are they worth the price?  Are they legal?
10.5   What are these different 'types' of composite motors I hear about (White
           Lightning, Black Jack, Smokey Sam, etc.)?
10.6   What's an FAA waiver? Which rocket flights require one?
       This section includes the relevant parts of FAR 101.
10.7   OK. I want to fly some high power rockets. How do I get an FAA waiver?
10.8   Is high power rocketry legal in every state, if the proper forms are
       obtained?
10.9   Where do I find out the proper way to use HPR rockets and motors?  I'm
           familiar with the NAR Model Rocketry Sporting Code.  Is there an HPR
            equivalent?
10.10  What are some good kits to build when first getting into high power
           rocketry (assuming I have all of the basic model rocketry skills)?
10.11  When is a Federal Low Explosives Permit required?
10.12   How do I get an LEUP? Are there any requirements?
10.13  How is thermalite affected by the ATF regulatory enforcement?
10.14  How can I get the Orange Book (explaining the ATF explosive laws
            and regulations) and the proper LEUP forms?
10.15  Just what is a 'hybrid' rocket motor? Who makes them?

### PART 11: HIGH POWER CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES

11.1   Do you have any tips for cutting and sealing fins used on HPR rockets?
11.2   How do you keep in a high power motor in its mount, but still allow
       for the numerous lengths in which HPR motors are sold?
11.3   Custom Decals for High Power Rockets
11.4   I've had several rocket body tubes ruined by the shock cord tearing
       into the body tube at ejection and making long slits.  How can I
        prevent this?
11.5   Estes 'toilet paper' recovery wadding strikes me as a bit wrong for HPR
       rockets.  What are some alternatives?
11.6   What are the differences between the various HPR body tube materials
        used by the 'major' HPR manufacturers?
11.7   How can I strengthen my thick paper (i.e., LOC type) body tubes?
11.8   Is there any way to retrofit my existing rockets to have some type of
       positive retention system?
11.9  All these high power motors are different sizes. How do I hold
       them in? What do I use for a motor block and where should I put it?

### PART 12: IGNITION AND LAUNCH SYSTEM TIPS

12.1   Copperhead, squib, electric match, thermalite, flash bulb.  What are
         all these types of igniters, how much current do they require, and
         when are they used?
12.2   How do those 'Copperhead' igniters work?  They only have one wire?
12.3   I've heard that Copperhead igniters are 'unreliable' for igniting HPR
         motors. Is that true?
12.4   Do you have any specific suggestions or tips for an ignition power
        sources? Can I use my old Estes ignition system with composite models?
12.5   WARNING:  Be very careful using any ignition system with 'flashbulb' or
          electric match type igniters.
12.6   The ignition of rockets by other than electrical means is banned by both
         the NAR and Tripoli safety codes and should not be used.
12.7   What is thermalite fuse and how is it involved in igniting rocket motors?
12.8   How do you ignite second stage composite motors?  Can I use a black
        powder booster for the first stage to ignite the second (as I do
        with multi-state A-D rockets)?
12.9   What is 'flash in the pan' ignition and for what is it useful in rocketry?
12.10  I would like to perfect a method for reliable ignition of clustered multi-
        stage rockets. Any suggestions or tips?
12.11  How do I cluster rocket motors?  When igniting a cluster of rocket
        motors, should the igniters be wired in parallel or in series? Why?
12.12  I am new to rocketry.  I was wondering whether anyone has tried
        using waterproof wicks instead of igniters to ignite a rocket engine.
12.13  The alligator clips on my launch system have worn out. What should I
        use to replace them?
12.14  Other Ignition Tips:

### PART 13: INTERNATIONAL ROCKETRY

13.1     Rocketry in Australia
13.1.1     What rules apply to model rocketry in Australia?
13.1.2     What are good sources of model rocketry kits/wg's/parts, etc.?
13.1.3     Are there any regular rocket contests, launches, clubs, etc.?
13.1.4     Info on amateur groups/activities (such as AusRoc) in the
            Australia.

13.2     Rocketry in Canada
13.2.1     Are there any national organizations to which I can join in Canada?
             What services do they offer?
13.2.2     What kinds of rockets (model and/or high power) are legal to fly in
            Canada?
13.2.3     Are there any High Power launches at all in Canada?
13.2.4     What kinds of rocket motors are available for purchase in Canada?
13.2.5     Are there any Canadian mail order houses where I can purchase model
              rocket kits, motors and supplies?

13.3     Rocketry in the United Kingdom
13.3.1     Is model rocketry legal in the UK?
13.3.2     What size model rockets can be flown?
13.3.3     What model rockets are available?
13.3.4     What types of engines are available?
13.3.5     Where can I buy model rockets?
13.3.6     Are there any events/competitions?
13.3.7     Are there any clubs?
13.3.8     What are addresses of some of the shops that carry model rocketry?
13.3.9     What are some of the rocket clubs in the U.K., and do they have any
               problems getting permission to fly their rockets?

13.4     Rocketry in South Africa

13.5     Rocketry in New Zealand

13.6     Rocketry in Germany
13.6.1     German Explosives Law
13.6.2     German Aviation Regulations
13.6.3     What Rockets and Motors can I buy and use in Germany?
13.6.4     Clustering and Staging
13.6.5     Can I make my own rocket motors?
13.6.6     Can I use rocket motors made for display fireworks?
13.6.7     Importing Rockets, Parts and Motors
13.6.8     Where can I launch my Rockets?
13.6.9     Where can I launch rockets with bigger motors?
13.6.10    What Insurance do I need?
13.6.11    Addresses of Rocketry-related Clubs

### PART 14: AMATEUR ROCKETRY

14.1  DISCLAIMER
14.2  How do I make my own rocket motors?
14.3  My primary interest is in amateur rocketry.
      Where can I find information about amateur rocketry?
14.4  Amateur rocketry on the Internet
14.5  Manufacturers, suppliers, publishers, and consultants