How many hedgehogs are left

As fields have got bigger, hedgerows, small woods and ponds, and the scrubby areas around the edge of fields have disappeared. These were all hedgehog habitats providing food and nesting sites. Pesticides in Town and Country. But hedgehogs eat insects and bugs. So pesticides are killing off their food sources. And when hedgehogs eat poisoned insects or slugs they may become ill themselves. Road Kill. Over , hedgehogs are killed on our roads each year.

The problem is worse in the countryside where speed limits are higher and roads are less well lit at night. Road kill is a serious and ongoing threat to the species. New Roads and Building Development. New roads, railways like HS2, and housing and industrial developments break up hedgehog populations and can mean that there are not enough hogs in one area to breed effectively. Increasingly Secure Fencing.

Hedgehogs need to be able to roam about a mile each night to get the food they need. So they are forced out on the roads which are very dangerous for them. Hedgehogs live in almost all areas of the UK. According to the BHPS hedgehog numbers in rural areas are falling much more rapidly than they are in the towns. In urban and suburban areas there are fewer hedgehog locations reported. But numbers of hedgehogs at each location is actually increasing. So, in the same way, that foxes are now thriving in our towns and cities, it looks like our gardens will be crucial for the future of hedgehogs.

In the countryside the British Hedgehog Preservation Society is doing brilliant work with farmers and landowners to educate them on how to make their properties more hedgehog-friendly. Britain leaving the EU could also be good news for hedgehogs.

Farmers currently get funding from the EU for food production. When we leave the EU the plan is to switch the emphasis to funding for land-stewardship and encouraging biodiversity. This could have a major positive impact on rural hedgehogs. In our towns and cities the Hedgehog Street Campaign, set up over 10 years ago, has worked to encourage the linking of gardens through a network of hedgehog highways.

They also fund research, offer training and work with developers. Our hedgehog population is a fraction of what it used to be. But there is lots of work being done to preserve our hedgehogs. And in our towns and cities it looks like things might already be improving. For more information on hedgehog numbers read the full BHPS report here.

And to get involved with helping hedgehogs in your area visit the Hedgehog Street website here. Carbohydrate-heavy bread, pizza and biscuits, which have limited nutritional value, are another no-no. Supplementary food is most useful in late summer and autumn, when hogs are fattening up prior to hibernation. The dramatic changes in farming practices mean that urban green space provides an increasingly important refuge for these charismatic creatures.

You can help by gardening in a more hog-friendly way. Allow your lawn to grow longer apart from being less work, it will also be more resilient to drought , let flowerbeds become messier, leave fallen leaves where they are and uncover any compost heaps fertile foraging grounds for hedgehogs. Avoid using lawn feeds, weedkillers and slug pellets: the wilder and more natural your garden, the better. If you have a pond, add some stones or a ramp at the edge so hedgehogs can drink safely.

A pile of dry leaves, moss, straw and sticks under bushes in a quiet corner of the garden can be equally effective. Log In. Contact us Sign up for newsletters. Log In Register now My account. By Josh Barrie. February 8, pm Updated October 7, pm. Read More Hedgehog warning signs could be coming to British roads to tackle falling population. Read More Hedgehog warning signs could be coming to British roads to tackle falling population Sign up now to get daily updates and analysis on COP26, and the race to stop climate disaster Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing!

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