Today, [Tuesday 22nd February 2022], a new report published by wildlife charities People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) has revealed that Britain’s hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) populations have continued to decline in rural areas by between 30% and 75% nationally since 2000. The largest declines are seen in the eastern half of England. The report outlines that our Rural Hedgehogs need more help than ever.
The new report reveals hedgehogs have declined by between 30% - 75%
across different areas of the countryside since 2000, but are stabilising in urban areas
Rural populations continue to plummet, with the largest declines in eastern England
Urban populations are stable, and may even be recovering thanks to community action
Urgent action is now needed to try and bring hedgehogs back to the countryside
David Wembridge, Mammal Surveys Coordinator at PTES, says: “Loss of landscape features such as hedgerows is partly responsible for the decline, but not fully, as recent efforts have been made to restore and improve them. We know from research, funded by PTES, BHPS and others over the last decade, that hedgehogs prefer villages to open farmland, and follow field margins and hedgerows. Understanding how hedgehogs use and move through the landscape is a big step forward, but more work is needed.”
In stark contrast, the charities’ State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022 report also shows that urban hedgehog populations appear to have stablised and might even be starting to recover, after previously falling.
You can read the full report here: THE STATE OF BRITAIN’S HEDGEHOGS 2022
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