There has been a massive decline in the Hedgehog population, throughout the UK; with 80% of Hedgehogs being wiped out since the 1950s. In other words, the UK has lost the vast majority of its Hedgehogs, in just under 70 years. Something which shows how fast this decline in the Hedgehog population has happened. The Hedgehog decline has only happened recently.
There is not a rural and urban difference to the Hedgehog population decline; the Hedgehog has declined in both rural and urban areas. Most worryingly, the drop in the Hedgehog is happening just as much in rural areas, as it is in urban areas.
A recent report has shown that the situation is so bad, that most of the countryside is now devoid of Hedgehogs, in the UK.
The Unhealthy Countryside
This doesn't only give us an indication of how unhealthy the Hedgehog population is; it also gives us an indication of how unhealthy the countryside is. It tells us that the ecosystems that the Hedgehog inhabits, such as hedgerows, forests, meadows, and even our gardens, aren't healthy for these animals, or our wildlife.
The Hedgehog population has declined by half since 2000. The growing absence and decline of Hedgehogs should be alarming to us, it is telling us that our environment, the countryside and our ecosystems are unhealthy. This is reflected in other reports that have been made recently about the Hedgehog.
There have been two reports already out this year about the Hedgehog which shows the decline and trouble these animals are in. There is also evidence that this is not unique to these animals. In March of this year, it was reported that the UK had lost a massive percentage of our wildlife; with it being reported that Britain has lost half its wildlife. While another report in June of this year showed that one in five mammals in the UK, now face extinction.
The Decline Of The Hedgehogs
A new study has shown that Hedgehogs were only found in 20% of sites that were studied. Meaning that there was an absence of the Hedgehog from 80% of the countryside areas that were studied.
The Hedgehog is now also extinct in the South-West, where no Hedgehogs were found to be living. Something that could be signalling the start of the extinction of the Hedgehog from the UK.
This is similar to what happened to the Scottish Wildcat. The Scottish Wildcat was once found throughout the British Isles, they were slowly driven towards being critically endangered, and now only exist in a small area of the Scottish highlands. Perhaps we can learn from the Scottish Wildcat, that just because a species can be found throughout the UK, doesn't make that species immune to becoming critically endangered, and faced with the prospect of becoming extinct. Even popular species are faced with extinction.
Threats Facing The Hedgehog
There are many threats which face these unique animals. Most of the threats that face these animals, comes down to us. One of the big threats to hedgehogs is agriculture. Agriculture has been destructive to Hedgehogs in many ways in the UK, from habitat destruction, the use of pesticides and the destruction of hedgerows.
Similar threats towards Hedgehogs can be found in areas where humans live. The use of things like slug repellent is deadly to Hedgehogs. No access to gardens and a lack of natural gardens also is responsible for the Hedgehogs decline. Gardens having no shrubs, Hedges, flowers, plants, trees or water systems (like a pond), is also contributing to the decline of Hedgehogs. Furthermore, the destruction of the greenbelt for ''development,'' is also responsible, for not only the decline of Hedgehogs but also is responsible for the decline of all other wild animals.
Hedgehogs now face extinction in the UK, something that would have once been unimaginable, is now a realistic prospect. The most startling thing is how resilient these animals have been. Hedgehogs have been around for 15 million years, they existed when the woolly mammoths and saber tooth tigers roamed the Earth, showing how resilient and strong these little animals are.
Our favorite garden visitor has survived the ice age, outlived mammoths and saber tooth tigers. Now, their survival is threatened with us; mankind. Our impact on our natural world is having a detrimental effect on the wild animals that share our country with us. The Hedgehog might have survived saber tooth tigers, woolly mammoths and the last ice age. The question is, will hedgehogs survived their biggest threat - us.