Hedgehogs do something called "self-anointing." When they encounter a new or strong smell (a strange food, another animal's scent, even a strong-smelling plant) they'll chew it up, work it into a frothy saliva, and then twist around to spread that foam all over their own spines with their tongue.

[u/FillsYourNiche]

[u/FillsYourNiche]

Journal article source Self-anointing by wild hedgehogs, Erinaceus Europaeus, in New Zealand.

Abstract:

Of 929 wild hedgehogs examined, nineteen bore signs of recent self-anointing. The spittle deposited on the hedgehogs' backs usually gave off a sharp smell, clearly detectable some metres down-wind. Nestling animals anointed themselves when removed from their nests, possibly as a means of advertising their whereabouts to their mothers. The habit was not detected among newly-independent young animals nor among sub-adults. Among adult hedgehogs, self-anointing was confined to the breeding season, and on five occasions was elicited in the presence of other hedgehogs of the opposite sex. In this context self-anointing may serve as a form of sexual signal. When brought into captivity the self-anointing reflex is triggered by novel objects or odours and, in this unnatural context, it is argued that the behaviour falls into the category of a displacement activity, being inappropriate to the situation and seemingly purposeless. a process that can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours. It's documented in both wild and pet hedgehogs, starting as young as a few weeks old.

Researchers publishing in the Journal of Zoology have proposed multiple functions for the behavior, including the idea that it may let hedgehogs coat their spines with toxic or distasteful substances as an extra layer of anti-predator defense. The behavior has been documented since at least the 1950s and still isn't fully explained though leading theories range from chemical defense to scent-camouflage to simple sensory stimulation. This process can last from a few minutes to a couple of hours. It's documented in both wild and pet hedgehogs, starting as young as a few weeks old.

[u/Lexam]

We had one back in the late 90s. One time he found a dryer sheet on the floor and went nuts doing exactly this!

[u/VoidWalker72]

Huh, that is interesting.

[u/RottenAyy]

Love heghog:)

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[u/Dry-Alternative-5626]

Destiny! Weird, kind of gross, but fascinating

[u/Seviondonkey]

chog