Our Story
Our love for hedgehogs began long before Great Lakes Hedgehogs ever existed.
Growing up on my parents' farm, I was surrounded by all kinds of incredible animals—ostriches, longhorn cattle, emus, rheas, horses, pheasants, llamas, and so many more. But out of all of them, it was one tiny hedgehog that completely captured my heart. From that moment on, I dreamed of having a hedgehog of my own someday.
Years later, that dream became a reality when our son mentioned that he wanted a hedgehog. We decided to take the plunge, and before long, one hedgehog became two. It didn't take long for me to realize that I wanted to do more than simply own hedgehogs—I wanted to breed them and share them with other families.
Not all of our hedgehogs were well-socialized when we first brought them home, and we quickly learned how challenging that could be. Our children were excited to hold and interact with them, but fearful, unsocialized hedgehogs made that difficult. That experience shaped the foundation of our breeding program. We made it our mission to raise hedgehogs that are not only healthy but also well-socialized and accustomed to gentle handling from an early age, making the transition into their new homes as smooth as possible.
Great Lakes Hedgehogs is truly a family-run business. My husband, Jeremiah, and I have been married since 2009 and are blessed with four wonderful children. When we're not homeschooling, you'll usually find us serving at church, cheering from the sidelines of a soccer field, or spending time together in our backyard garden.
I'm the hedgehog lady behind Great Lakes Hedgehogs! I handle customer communication, pedigrees, breeding plans, daily care, and, of course, plenty of hedgehog snuggles.
Jeremiah is the builder and problem-solver of the family. He designed the Giles Jogger Bucket Wheel and handcrafts every wheel we offer. He also jumps in wherever he's needed, making Great Lakes Hedgehogs a true team effort.
Our four children are an important part of the Great Lakes Hedgehogs family! They love helping care for the hedgehogs and pitch in wherever they're needed. Whether they're cleaning wheels and enclosures, helping with daily chores, or spending time socializing our hoglets, they play a valuable role in raising friendly, well-adjusted hedgehogs. Their gentle, regular interaction helps our hoglets become comfortable with people of all ages before they head to their forever homes.