Why are our hedgehogs in trouble?

Mooney Goes Wild contributor Terry Flanagan shares his latest batch of nature news.

When have you last seen a hedgehog? I must admit, I saw one this year on our estate, but the last time before that was a number of years ago.

In fact, hedgehogs are now listed as "near threatened" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list after a decline in numbers of at least 30% over the past decade across much of their range.

The next level on the list kept by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is "vulnerable," then "endangered." Numbers of the tiny mammal have plunged by more than half in host countries, which include Ireland, Britain, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria.

Why should this be so? Well, it appears that we humans should take the blame. The main killer of hedgehogs is cars. Sadly, the hedgehog’s instinctive reaction to danger is to curl into a ball and expose its spines. This may work well against a predator like a fox, but this defence mechanism will not work against a motor vehicle. Sadly, we see the evidence of this on our roads.

Other threats include pesticides used by farmers and gardeners, and a decline in the insects that make up a large part of the hedgehog's diet. And one of the worst offenders is the strimmer, not to mention bonfires at Halloween.

There is still a chance to halt the decline of the European hedgehog, and we must aim to prevent any further worsening of status.

Try to garden in a wildlife friendly way. Leave small gaps in fences to allow them pass from garden to garden. Buy a hedgehog hibernation box and leave it in a quiet spot in the garden and hopefully it may be used over the winter.

Finally, and most importantly, if you do come across an injured or sick hedgehog, do not give it bread or milk. They are lactose intolerant animals and the milk will make them very sick. They may even die from it. Cat food or dog food with water added will do the trick or you can contact a local wildlife rescue centre for more information.