Hedgehogs in dramatic decline
According to ecologists, once common sightings of hedgehogs in UK gardens are becoming increasingly rare. Figures suggest that the hedgehog population decreased by over a third between 2003 and 2012, a dramatic fall that can be compared to the decline of red squirrels and starlings, ecologists say.
These figures were compiled by The People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), who have been running counts of hedgehogs for over a decade. The charity believes there are now less than a million hedgehogs left in the UK, down from an estimated 2 million in the mid 1990s, and 36 million in the 1950s.
David Wembridge, PTES's survey officer said: "Compared to loss of other species, it's a very high rate of loss. Losing a third of the population in ten years is serious." He adds that whilst the threat of extinction in the near future is unlikely, the decline could have wider implications for the state of the UK's ecosystems. As hedgehogs, like butterflies, are seen as an 'indicator' species, a big decline "raises concerns about the quality of the environment generally."
Ecologists say that more research is needed to determine the reasons behind the decline. Speaking of the likely causes, Hugh Warwick, author and spokesperson for the British Hedgehog Preservation Society said: "The most obvious thing is habitat loss. But the biggest thing is habitat fragmentation. It comes in many different forms - you put a big road through the middle of a hedgehog habitat, and then a crossroads, and the hedgehog habitat becomes smaller and smaller."
Other possibilities cited by ecologists include poor management of hedgerows and increased rainfall, resulting in flooding of the animal's homes. Road traffic presents a significant threat to the hedgehog, with tens of thousands being lost this way every year.
Warwick is urging people to take part in a Hedgehog Street project to build habitats and 'wildlife corridors' for hedgehogs in gardens. The public are also being encouraged to take part in the second hedgehog hibernation survey on 1 February, to find out whether warmer temperatures are causing hedgehogs to leave hibernation early.
Click here to find out more about Hedgehog Street projects.
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