The first complete survey of hedgehog sightings in Britain has found
that Hampshire is a hotspot, with 1,250 recorded since 2015. On the Isle
of Wight, however, Hedgehog Street, a joint project by the charities
the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog
Preservation Society, said it had received only 63 reported sightings.
The
results will contribute to its online “Big Hedgehog Map”, an attempt to
crowdsource a census of the UK’s dwindling hedgehog population.
The
next most populous counties were Oxfordshire and Greater Manchester,
tied on 803 sightings, and then Devon and Hertfordshire. As well as the
Isle of Wight, Bath, Bristol and Somerset were also particularly low.
Emily
Wilson, the hedgehog officer for Hedgehog Street, said that because
they relied on the public to come forward, they could not be certain the
numbers reflected population density — and that because of that they
needed more volunteers.
“A
lower number or no sightings doesn’t necessarily mean there are fewer
hedgehogs in the area, but simply that we’re not being told about them,”
she said. “Therefore, we’re asking anyone who sees a hedgehog to record
their sightings on the Big Hedgehog Map — so if you’re lucky enough to
spot one, please log your hog!”
OneLastReasonToBreathe 