As you all know primates are my “thing”, or as some of my male colleagues like to put it: “you’re into monkeys?!” But today I’m going to deviate ever so slightly to mention the plight of the humble British hedgehog.
This species like so many primates are in rapid decline and one of the biggest factors threatening their existence is habitat loss and fragmentation.
Stuart Webb ITN's cameraman getting up close and personal with hedgehogs in Oxfordshire
Today at work I was asked to cover the report of the State of Britain’s Mammals, commissioned by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and carried out by experts from Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit.
I was absolutely astounded to learn that in the 1950s there were around 30 million hedgehogs in Britain and now the figure is closer to 1.5million.
Hugh Warwick from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society told me these incredible creatures have been around since before the Ice Age and yet despite living through that, they are now dying out. This he says, is surely an indicator that ecosystems are changing and man has much to answer for.
Without corridors (small holes in the fence) between our gardens hedgehogs are effectively trapped. These mammals can forage for up to 2km a night so creating a small outlet into other open spaces is crucial. They eat all kinds of bugs as well as slugs and snails. The less work you do to your garden the better – patios and decking are not “hog-friendly”! So if you want to help save a much-loved species, think twice before tiling over your garden.
You can read Hugh’s marvellous take on today’s filming here.
My dear friends in Ireland – BQ and Mr D have just sent through pictures of their latest visitors to their garden, which happens to be an eco-paradise. They started getting one regular hedgehog who has clearly spread the word that the food is great down the road and has brought along another wee fella and they think, possible their “Ma”.
This is how the Irish do it.....en mass! Hedgehogs in a Dublin garden
whogivesamonkeys 
BQ
September 26, 2011
BQ here. The increase in pesticides and other chemicals that people use in their garden have drastic consequences. People want perfect flowers and plants, not slug eaten ones!. So by using slug pellets you are killing the natural food for hedgehogs and also endangering the wildlife that may eat the slugs affected by these chemicals. For years I have left the garden pretty much untouched. Any dead branches / leaves are thrown into the back of the trees to create areas for insects and small animals. This is a garden in a housing estate and has fences all around, however there is a hole in the fence each side which the hedgehogs use. I encourage you all to look at your gardens and see that there is access for these animals. They are such a sight to see. 🙂
joan wilson manchester
September 27, 2011
Hi I love hedgehogs myself and three years ago manage too encourage a hedgehog to make my garden its home, it was brilliant watching it night after night. we actually built it a box and it stayed hibernated for two years . last spring my hedgehog had babies and for three nights watched the family wander about, unfortunately it preferred next door garden to wander on the grass even though it had mince fruit nuts and spikeys food and water. To my disguust and horror i witnessed drunken young so called adults use planks and kill the mum and never saw the babies again. i live on a rough cuncil estate where animals are cruely treated on a daily basis. so not encourage any more even squrrels and jays use to come but i couldnt chance more animals suffering. Great your highlighting the plight of the hedgehogs lovely creature
urbanprimate
September 27, 2011
Oh dear that sounds pretty horrid Joan. These animals, especially hogs exist everywhere, so if you can help them on their journey through people’s gardens, it’s positive. Creating corridors (perhaps away from that particular neighbour) is a small but positive step. You don’t necessarily have to feed them, but if you do, then I’ve been told by experts that only dog and cat food should be offered up.
Best
A