It’s official: Hedgehogs are in trouble

But their friendly presence in our gardens could soon become a thing of the past, as a new study shows their numbers have declined by a quarter in the last decade alone.

It’s official – “hedgehogs are in trouble”.

Conservation groups are now launching a scheme to encourage people to make their gardens and neighbourhoods more “hedgehog friendly” in a bid to halt the decline.

But just why are the mammals disappearing quite so rapidly?

“It’s mainly loss of hedgerows,” said Sarah Williams, conservation officer for Dorset Wildlife Trust.

“Our fields are much bigger, and there are fewer food sources around hedgerows. A lot of hedgerows are not managed well, there are gaps, they’re not bushy at the bottom.

“There might not be pests for them to eat because farmers have to spray pesticides to get a good yield.

“It’s been a very dry summer as well so they are probably struggling to find enough to drink.”

The presence of more badgers, a natural predator of hedgehogs, is also believed to be a factor in the decline.

According to the report by the British Trust for Ornithology for the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, numbers fell from an estimated 30 million in the 1950s to just 1.5 million by 1995.

Rat traps are also a huge problem.

Angela Squires, who runs CRASH (Care Rehabilitation and Aid for Sick Hedgehogs) from her home in Canford Heath, Poole, has had three hedgehogs needing amputations due to injuries caused by rat traps in the last week alone. She has been running her hedgehog hospital for the past 18 years, dealing with around 2,000 “hoggies” a year, and is becoming seriously concerned about the creatures’ plight.

“They’ve just gone,” she said.

“If people had just taken notice earlier. We’re not going to see them at all soon.

“They’ve disappeared from Ferndown and Westbourne and we’re not allowed to put them back because people are putting slug pellets down.

“People say they just put them in tubs or hanging baskets, but the slugs eat them, then they climb down, then the hedgehogs eat the slugs and it kills them.”

The dry weather is also causing a problem, meaning many hedgehogs are dehydrated and the ground is too hard for them to dig for grubs.

Members of the public are now being urged to get involved in the Hedgehog Street campaign, which includes simple steps to make their gardens more hedgehog-friendly.

“A wildlife garden makes a huge difference,” explained Sarah.

“Having good, bushy areas in the garden, not tidying up leaves because they use them to make areas to hibernate in. Not using slug pellets so they’ve got a good food source, because they eat pests.

“Making sure there’s some undisturbed areas of the garden.”

Hedgehogs are apparently good climbers, with longer legs than you might think, and have a territory of around a mile, meaning they need an average of 12 gardens for habitat.

And, as far as feeding the creatures goes, it’s true, they do love dog food.

“Dog food is good for them, although I’m told they don’t like fishy varieties,” confirmed Sarah.

“Please don’t give them bread and milk because it gives them diarrhoea and they can actually die from that because they become dehydrated.

“Give them water to drink and, if you have a garden pond, make sure there are some stones or a log for them to climb out, because they can swim, but they won’t be able to climb out of deep water by themselves.”

Hedgehogs may be seen out during the day at this time of year as they are feeding babies, but if they are lying on their side and not walking about, they may need help.

“They’re up against it now, they really are,” said Angela.

“I’m despairing, I don’t know which way to turn. Please help them.”

• Anyone finding an unwell hedgehog or wanting advice about humane pest killers can call Angela Squires on 01202 699358.