Sadly, hedgehogs have declined massively in the last few decades. Most of the hedgehogs that we had in the UK are now gone.
It's estimated that the UK population has declined by a massive 95% since the 1950s. This has resulted in the UK losing millions of hedgehogs in the space of just a few decades. The hedgehog population in Britain was estimated to be 36.5 million hedgehogs in the 1950s. Since then however, the hedgehog population has dropped dramatically. Today the hedgehog population today is only 1.5 million hedgehogs. This is a staggering decline in the hedgehog population.
There are only 1.5 million hedgehogs estimated to be living in Britain today.
In the different parts of Britain, this breaks down to:
1.1 million hedgehogs in England
310,000 hedgehogs in Scotland
140,000 hedgehogs in Wales
The worrying thing about the decline in hedgehogs is, is that half of the decline in hedgehogs has happened since the 1990s.
Therefore, a massive 50% of the hedgehog decline has happened in just the last 20 to 30 years within Britain. These numbers are alarming, as declines like these could result in hedgehogs becoming endangered or extinct in our lifetime.
Last year, hedgehogs were classified as vulnerable to extinction in the UK.
When species are regarded as vulnerable to extinction, it means that they are one step away from becoming an endangered species. Therefore, hedgehogs are one step away from becoming an endangered species in the UK; which is incredibly sad.
The Mammal Society created its own 'Red List for Britain's Mammals' last summer. It documents the conservation status of Britain's mammals - including documenting the conservation status of Britain's hedgehogs.
The Mammal Society has classified hedgehogs as a vulnerable species.
What we do today, will determine whether or not the hedgehog becomes endangered in the UK, or even extinct. Our actions today will decide whether or not hedgehogs will survive in the future.
Why Are Hedgehogs Declining?
Hedgehogs are declining for several reasons.
The reasons that hedgehogs are declining and have been declining are due to human behaviours. The construction of roads and motorways - especially when these roads and motorways fragment habitats - result in hedgehogs being killed and unable to move about safely.
There has been an increase in roads and motorways being built for decades in the UK, which is and has been resulting in the decline of hedgehogs.
The destruction of the hedgehogs habitats, in general, is a major reason why hedgehogs have been declining and are declining. Protecting their habitat, rewilding and making our gardens wildlife friendly, are all great ways that we can help hedgehogs and stop their decline.
There are also other reasons that hedgehogs are declining due to human behaviours, these include the way that agriculture is done and the use of harmful chemicals - such as the use of harmful chemicals like pesticides.
The use of pesticides is causing a decline in the insects that hedgehogs eat.
Our gardens and the way that we garden are also harming hedgehogs. Using fertilizers or slug pellets in the garden harm hedgehogs. Having a closed off gardens - especially walled in gardens or gardens that have fences with no easy access for hedgehogs - also harm hedgehogs too. Hedgehogs rely on easy access to gardens so that they can find food and shelter.
Creating a gap at the bottom of your fences so that hedgehogs can move freely between your garden will help hedgehogs - this is what is known as a hedgehog highway. Creating a garden that is wildlife friendly will help hedgehogs (and other animals); helping hedgehogs in the garden can also stop their decline.
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