Hedgehog sightings continue to fall
“It’s alarming to see numbers of our cherished hedgehogs continuing to decline".
Sightings of hedgehogs are down for the third consecutive year, with nearly 60 per cent of people saying they did not see a single hedgehog in their gardens last year.
This is according to an annual survey by Gardeners’ World magazine.
Out of 1,718 survey participants, only nine per cent said they regularly saw hedgehogs in their garden in 2017, compared to 12 per cent in 2016.
All in all, 57 per cent did not see any hedgehogs last year, which is up from 51 per cent in 2016 and 48 per cent in 2015.
Kevin Smith, deputy editor for the magazine, commented: “It’s alarming to see numbers of our cherished hedgehogs continuing to decline, as they’re such a vital part of any healthy garden and, more widely, our ecosystem.”
However, the survey also suggests greater awareness of the plight of hedgehogs is encouraging more gardeners to help them. One in six people said they had cut a hole in their garden fence to allow hedgehogs to roam, while 36 per cent retained leaves and twigs for nesting and 39 per cent had stopped using slug pellets.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
