Clownstrike
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Our Hedgie relatives in decline . . . - 2006/07/07 14:24
I happened to come across this story and found it interesting. This is about Europeans, but they're pretty closely related to our little buddies. You would think we'd have a bit of trouble endangering a mammal that has been around since the dinos, but I guess there's no end to trouble man can cause . . . 
Huffs,
Tim
WHY THE HEDGEHOG POPULATION HAS HALVED IN SIX YEARS
BY ANDREW LEVY
4 July 2006
Daily Mail
THE hedgehog population in Britain has been halved in recent years, a disturbing survey has found.
Numbers have dropped from around 1.5million to 750,000 over a six-year period, leading to concerns about the mammal's long-term future.
Road death, attacks by badgers and new farming practices are being blamed.
Intensive farming presents one of the greatest threats, with larger fields destroying foraging areas and pesticides killing off food supplies.
In an attempt to reverse the trend, wildlife experts from the People's Trust for Endangered Species have started a national survey to find out where hedgehogs are managing to survive.
The project is being co- ordinextnated by Royal Holloway University in London and funded by the trust and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
Dr Paul Bright, of Royal Holloway, said: 'It is vital to know where hedgehogs are still present and determine why their numbers appear to be falling.
'This will not only help us safeguard an endearing favourite of the British garden but also many other species with similar needs.
'The survey is simple to complete and, very importantly, letting us know if you haven't seen hedgehogs is just as important as letting us know that you have.
'Hedgehogs have been around for 20million years - we want to ensure they will be around in the century.' PTES identified the drop in numbers with its annual Mammals on Road surveys between 1995 and 2001, which estimate numbers based on the frequency of road kills.
It has decided to launch Hog-Watch because there has been no sign of improvement.
The public is being asked to report where they spotted hedgehogs last year and whether the animals are still there now.
An online form is available at www.HogWatch.org.uk and information provided will be added to a database.
British Hedgehog Preservation Society spokesman Fay Vass said: 'At first it was thought there could have been a blip in the figures or there had been a bad year for hedgehogs. Now we realise there has been a fairly steady decline and want to find out why.
'Building a map of the UK will identify where hedgehogs are doing well and where they are doing poorly.
'Hopefully that will give us an indication of what problems they are facing in certain areas and whether they are doing better in suburban gardens or on farms.'
Homeowners can help halt the decline by leaving out water and food, such as dog or cat food.
Gardens can be made ' hedgehog friendly' by providing escape routes from ponds, keeping drain holes covered and checking piles of leaves before burning them in case hedgehogs are nesting.
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