Help fate of hedgehogs with survey on sightings
THE Mammal Society has asked me to enlist the help of readers to record and conserve our hedgehogs.
Winter is nearly here and it’s time for hedgehogs to hibernate, but how have they fared this year?
By taking part in this new survey you can help the society review how many hedgehogs – dead or alive – have been spotted this year, where exactly they were seen, just how many were actually spotted and much more.
Hedgehogs are one of our most appealing and best-loved mammals but they are currently experiencing a long-term decline. In fact, they are now so rare that it is easy to remember exactly when and where you last saw one - and this is valuable information that can be used to understand what we can do to help.
Readers can therefore help to identify the gaps in the understanding of hedgehog conservation.
All that you have to do is to answer the questions below on an email and send it completed to info@themammalsociety. org...
(1) Have you seen a hedgehog (either alive or dead) this year?
(2) How many times have you seen live hedgehogs this year?
(3) How many times have you seen dead hedgehogs this year?
(4) When and where did you see a live hedgehog this year?
(5) When and where did you see a dead hedgehog this year?
If the sighting was in your garden, or within a quarter of a mile of your home address, please mark it as ‘home’ on your answer.
Please enter an address with a postcode, or a grid reference for each sighting. If you do not know the exact location of the sighting please give the nearest town or village and road name, e.g. Glossop SK13.
(6) In which habitat types were your hog sightings?
(7) Have you found any hedgehogs this year that appeared sick or injured?
(8) Have you seen any hedgehogs out during the day this year?
(9) Have you put out food for hedgehogs this year?
Please remember that if you feed hedgehogs it is important to avoid feeding them bread, milk and fish-based cat food.
(10) This year, have you seen hedgehogs more or less often than five years ago?
(11) This year, have you seen hedgehogs more or less often than 10 years ago?