"California banned the owning of hedgehogs because of they have a law that makes all animals not listed as ‘legal’ under State law as ‘illegal’ by default not until the Department of Fish and Game of California is willing to consider them as legal in status. Until then, they will be confiscated and banned as pets". (Knowswhy.com)      The CA Depart. of Fish and Game claims hedgehogs, "can become pests where they have been introduced into the wild in new areas." However, rats, mice, and hamsters are all currently legal in California, and would be considered pests by many people if let loose as well. It is not the intention of future hedgehog owners to release their pets into the wild.however it is unlikely for them to find another mate and survive log enough to give birth in the wild with how many predators are in california's wildlife. If cats and dogs, which are just as domesticated as hedgehogs, cannot survive when they are let loose due to mountain lions, hawks, and other predators, then how will a hedgehog survive the same habitat? Hedgehogs are pretty fragile creatures they would have a hard time living in the wild and creating a population that would affect california wildlife. It is also noted that their diseases will disrupt California's natural wildlife, however, as aforementioned, they would not live long enough in the wild to pass on their supposed diseases the same diseases spread by cats, dogs and other rodents already legal in california. Illegal hedgehog breeders in California may rear their hedgehogs in conditions unsafe for the animal and/or unsafe for the environment. If the hedgehog became legal to own and breed in California, legal professional breeders who recognize the consequences of accidentally releasing hedgehogs into the wild would start up, giving the hedgehogs a safe environment to be raised and sold in while decreasing their rate of escape and breeding out deadly genetic diseases that some hedgehogs have which is kept alive from illegal breeders. these hypoallergenic friendly hogs are the perfect pet.

Please help these adorable creatures have happy homes in the sunny state of california.