Is it goodbye hedgehog?

[knocker]

Hedgehogs will be gone in a decade, TV expert warns

 

Britain’s hedgehogs are declining so quickly that they could be gone in ten years, according to a wildlife expert.

 

Michaela Strachan, who has presented television shows such as The Really Wild Show, Springwatch and Countryfile, said that the animals were relatively easy to protect but that they were being taken for granted.

 

While the world is preoccupied with protecting tigers, rhinos, elephants and monkeys, animals closer to home still require our urgent attention, she argued. “Hedgehogs are declining at the same rate as tigers,†she told Radio Times. “They’re in critical danger, particularly in London. If we don’t do anything about them they will be gone in ten years.â€

 

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article4444360.ece

 

And

 

Last of London’s hedgehogs fight for survival

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/environment/wildlife/article4457604.ece?CMP=Spklr-_-Editorial-_-TWITTER-_-thetimes-_-20150602-_-News-_-187641938&linkId=14655595

 

Personally I blame Global Warming.

[4wd]

They seem to come and go in a rather cyclical way.
I'm sure I've heard stories of their decline for decades mainly based on how many were seen squashed on the roads. We have plenty here.

This seems quite convincing.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/nature_studies/nature-studies-by-michael-mccarthy-more-badgers-and-fewer-hedgehogs-coincidence-i-dont-think-so-6291446.html
 

[Nouska]

We have a large number of hedgehogs due to ideal countryside and my offerings of food for the feral cats from adjacent farm. It is certainly a badger that has been the cause of any fatalities - examination of the remains shows evisceration. I was wondering about the parkland in the article that Knocker linked to - would there be badgers there which would be under protection? (I don't subscribe to read the link).

 

Here, I'm more likely to see a badger lying dead at the side of the road than a hedgehog squished on the road but I'm sure the motor car is the largest killer in urban areas.

[Snipper]

Badgers and foxes are known killers of hedgehogs. Pity there is no proper control of them.

Haven't had a hedgehog around for a couple of years. Have a couple of vacant hedgehog houses I made going for a very reasonable rent to suitable spiny candidates.

Snipper

[Spikecollie]

I didn't want to start a new thread, but I've just had a very annoying experience. I went into the garden to do some weeding about an hour or so ago, after lunch, and saw a hedgehog. I know that they are usually in trouble if they are out during the day/but conversely it is possible that it is a female with a nest/building a nest. It was mooching around and it's eyes were bright and clear and it curled up when I approached. I came in and instead of getting a box straight away, I checked a) for my local sanctuary and b) the advice again. I went back out and it was then mooching around my gooseberry bushes. Went back out in the middle of a heavy shower with a box and my gardening gloves on, and yes - it was gone without a trace. It was medium sized, so I'm not sure whether it  could have been a pregnant/nursing female, so maybe leaving well alone was best. I hope it's OK. I'll keep the box ready just in case...