1. **Tunnels and Hideouts**: Hedgehogs love to explore and hide. Providing tunnels made of cardboard or plastic, as well as cozy hideouts, can encourage natural burrowing and exploration behaviors.
2. **Exercise Wheels**: A solid-surface exercise wheel is a must-have for hedgehogs. They are nocturnal and need to expend energy during the night. Ensure the wheel is appropriately sized (about 12 inches in diameter) to prevent back injuries.
3. **Interactive Toys**: Toys that encourage foraging, such as treat balls or puzzle feeders, can keep your hedgehog mentally stimulated. You can hide their favorite treats inside these toys, motivating them to work for their food.
4. **Safe Chewing Options**: Providing safe chew toys made from natural materials can help satisfy their chewing instincts. Look for items made from untreated wood or safe plastic.
5. **Sensory Enrichment**: Introduce different textures and scents in their environment. You can add crumpled paper, fleece, or grass to their habitat, and occasionally introduce new scents (like herbs) to pique their interest.
6. **Supervised Playtime**: Allow your hedgehog to explore outside their cage in a safe, enclosed area. This can provide a new environment for them to investigate, which is excellent for their physical and mental health.
7. **Social Interaction**: While hedgehogs are solitary animals, they can benefit from gentle interaction with their owners. Spend time handling them, allowing them to roam on your lap, or providing gentle petting, which can help them become more comfortable with human interaction.
By incorporating these enrichment activities into your hedgehog's routine, you can help ensure they remain happy, healthy, and well-adjusted pets!
This answer doesn't make sense or isn't related to the question. Mark it as a probable hallucination of the AI model.