National Hedgehog Day - February 2nd
On February 2nd, we celebrate National Hedgehog Day! Lucy walks us through the plight of these elusive creatures and spotlights organisations in the uk working hard for the conservation of hedgehogs.
Snuffling through the undergrowth and scoffing on slugs under the cover of darkness, these secret creatures rarely cross our path. As we lie asleep, hedgehogs come to life, crunching through leaves as they scuttle over pavements through our back gardens. Gazing beyond my window, the corner street light occasionally brings a smile to my face. I see a spiny body emerge from the hedgerow and creep across to the house on the other side of the street.
In 2020, hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) were placed on the Red List for British Mammals, officially declaring them as vulnerable to extinction. Sadly, UK numbers of hedgehogs have halved since the year 2000. Hedgehogs are often overlooked as a species in decline, due to the little interaction we as humans have with them.
Despite this sad news, there is a glimmer of hope for our favoured nocturnal creature. As part of National Hedgehog Day, here are some of the incredible success stories and conservation progress happening right now in the UK.
Hedgehog in grass by Laura Cuppage
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), founded in 1982, is a registered charity that is dedicated to the care and protection of hedgehogs. BHPS has made considerable leaps in their support of the humble hedgehog and in 2020, 80 UK universities agreed to take part in the ‘Hedgehog Friendly Campus Campaign’ created by the BHPS. This project promises not only to help prosper a new generation of hedgehogs but also educate and inform younger generations about hedgehog behaviour. This project ensures that campuses are litter-free, have joined-up habitats, opportunities for hedgehogs to eat and drink and have new hedgehog houses built within the university land.
Another wonderful registered charity called Prickles and Paws, founded in 2017, is also doing everything it can to provide rescue, emergency care, and rehabilitation for native British hedgehogs in Cornwall and West Devon. Not only do they focus on animal welfare, they also aim to educate the general public through workshops to help foster knowledge of environmental conservation. Their blog is fun for adults and kids with useful tips, creative ideas to get involved, and also ways in which individuals can help care for our little friends.
A success in the past year comes in the form of a campaign called ‘Hedgehog Street’ created by BHPS and People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES). Its aim is to provide helpful garden features to create highways between enclosed garden spaces so that hedgehogs don’t become trapped. This is an interactive project and you can map your hedgehog highway on the hedgehog street website and see the other 70,000 registered users that are part of their campaign. In addition, Bovis Homes house builder launched the industry's first hedgehog campaign in 2020, promising to install hedgehog highways to existing developments, new sites and wherever possible. These do not just benefit hedgehogs but other small mammals.
Hedgehog by Alicia Hayden
We can all play our part in helping care for hedgehogs at home. If you have a garden you can create a log pile which will offer a place of shelter and food. You can even create your own hedgehog home (see BHPS for more details) to ensure that ponds have an easy route out of them. Checking areas before mowing or trimming, cutting down on the level of pesticides and slug pellets used, and covering up deep holes and drains are all beneficial to caring for hedgehogs.
During January and February, most hedgehogs will be in hibernation so it is very rare that you will see any at this time of the year. If you do see a hedgehog out due to the mild weather, please do not disturb them as it could be harmful. Going forward into March, we will start to see them come out more frequently and they will often need lots of food as they will be underweight from the winter. This is the ideal time to help supplement their diets with wet cat or dog food by leaving out a saucer overnight. Be mindful to leave them a little water as well.
Following these key steps is a great way to play your part in helping to conserve the future of our humble hedgehog.
Thank you to Laura Cuppage and Alicia Hayden for their wonderful illustrations. You can find more of their work @laura.cuppageart & @aliciahaydenwildlife.
Lucy Saunders
Lucy Saunders is an MA writing student best known for writing emotive nature pieces around specific wildlife species. Lucy has a keen interest in environmental concerns and how humans impact the land through agriculture and landscaping. Lucy has had work published in multiple independent publications along with her photographs and is working on her first selection of poems.
You can find her on Instagram @lucyjanesaunders .