The hedgehog. All you ever wanted to know...

[Cowabunga]

Far more than you ever wanted to know from a current Prime Ministerial candidate. And more. And more.
He mentions the badger as a predator but is interrupted at the critical moment from which he recovers quite skilfully.
For my own part, it is quite obvious here on my farm that as badgers have increased to become real pests, the hedgehog has disappeared from a once common species in the 1970's to one that I have not seen in some years. They disappeared in inverse proportion to the badger rising, along with many ground nesting birds.

It is a crying shame, it really is.

 

[RushesToo]

I wonder if the amazing reappearance of the hedgehog in areas is because loacl brock has been brought under control, sometimes in badger control areas, and sometimes not. Both for the same reason - they carry disease, a level three pathogen - Tuberculosis.
Level 4 is ebola just to give a benchmark.

 

[som farmer]

certainly seen more this year, no inside out skins seen, and we are only in yr 1 of cull, seen 3 pheasant broods already, and a few more ducklings on the pond, but, of course, its nothing to do with badgers!!!!!!!!

 

[RushesToo]

certainly seen more this year, no inside out skins seen, and we are only in yr 1 of cull, seen 3 pheasant broods already, and a few more ducklings on the pond, but, of course, its nothing to do with badgers!!!!!!!!

Can't like that enough

 

[robs1]

We are now in a cull area and hopefully will reduce badger numbers a lot to give lots of other creatures a better chance

 

[matthew]

Hedgehogs seen here too - first time for over 20 years.
And a slow worm, basking in the sun a few weeks ago.

 

[Cranman]

A study of the current status of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), decline in Great Britain since 1960

‘Doncaster (1992) suggested that predation by badgers may account for this patchy distribution; he showed that high densities of badgers in one area in Oxfordshire appeared to enhance dispersal and mortality of introduced hedgehogs. The regional differences in hedgehog numbers indicated by the road-kill survey seem to support the suggestion that hedgehogs are most common where badgers are rarer (cf. Cresswell et al. 1989). Predation is another factor that might have an impact on the distribution and density of hedgehogs. Although a review by Reeve (1994) reveals that many species ranging from foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) to various mustelids and birds of prey occasionally prey upon hedgehogs, badgers (Meles meles) pose the greatest threat in Great Britain. Although the earthworm (Lumbricis terrestris) is the most important food of the badger in Great Britain, badgers do occasionally prey upon hedgehogs (Doncaster, 1992; Doncaster, 1994; Micol et al., 1994; Neal & Cheeseman, 1996; Del Bove & Isotti, 2001; Young, 2005). Middleton (1935) even found four hedgehogs in the stomach of a single badger. Additionally, badgers may compete with hedgehogs for suitable habitat and prey (Reeve, 1994; Neal & Cheeseman, 1996). It is therefore not surprising that local impacts of badgers on hedgehogs have been studied (Doncaster, 1992; Doncaster, 1994; Micol et al., 1994; Ward et al., 1997; Young, 2005). It has for instance been revealed that hedgehogs disperse further if they are introduced in areas with a high badger density (Doncaster, 1992; Doncaster, 1994). Surveys carried out by Young et al. (2006) showed that hedgehogs were almost absent from suitable habitats in rural areas, supposedly due to high abundances of badgers. Micol et al. (1994) predicted that in areas where the mean badger density exceeds 2.27 setts per 10km2 (10km * 10km) hedgehogs would not persist. If this figure holds true, it means that hedgehog populations are at risk of extinction due to badger predation and/or competition in large parts of England. In the south west of England for instance the mean number of badger main setts can be as high as 6 to 7 per 10km2 (Wilson et al., 1997). It is suggested that urban areas provide refuges from badgers for hedgehogs (Young et al., 2006; Dowding, 2007). Badgers are mainly confined to rural areas although they occasionally dig setts in urban areas (Neal & Cheeseman, 1996). Recently however, the number of badgers in urban areas has been increasing (Delahay et al., 2009). predation pressure on hedgehogs in these areas. The question arises as to whether the increasing competition and predation due to rising numbers of badgers over the last decades (Wilson et al., 1997; Battersby, 2005; Delahay et al., 2009) has become one of the main reasons for the apparent decline in hedgehogs Although hedgehogs are present in higher abundances in arable landscapes, mainly due to the relative absence of badgers, it can be deduced from the movements of hedgehogs (chapter 4) and their habitat selection that they do not frequently use arable land itself. Radio tracking showed that hedgehogs appeared to be concentrated on the agri-environment field margins and in the hedgerows surrounding the arable fields, which they were reluctant to cross, or they (females especially) retreated within the village boundaries. It is thus thought likely that, in the absence of badgers, hedgehogs would be more numerous in landscapes dominated by pastures than is currently the case. Increasing the coverage of agri-environment field margins in arable landscapes would also benefit hedgehogs’.

 

[som farmer]

A study of the current status of the hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), decline in Great Britain since 1960

‘Doncaster (1992) suggested that predation by badgers may account for this patchy distribution; he showed that high densities of badgers in one area in Oxfordshire appeared to enhance dispersal and mortality of introduced hedgehogs. The regional differences in hedgehog numbers indicated by the road-kill survey seem to support the suggestion that hedgehogs are most common where badgers are rarer (cf. Cresswell et al. 1989). Predation is another factor that might have an impact on the distribution and density of hedgehogs. Although a review by Reeve (1994) reveals that many species ranging from foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) to various mustelids and birds of prey occasionally prey upon hedgehogs, badgers (Meles meles) pose the greatest threat in Great Britain. Although the earthworm (Lumbricis terrestris) is the most important food of the badger in Great Britain, badgers do occasionally prey upon hedgehogs (Doncaster, 1992; Doncaster, 1994; Micol et al., 1994; Neal & Cheeseman, 1996; Del Bove & Isotti, 2001; Young, 2005). Middleton (1935) even found four hedgehogs in the stomach of a single badger. Additionally, badgers may compete with hedgehogs for suitable habitat and prey (Reeve, 1994; Neal & Cheeseman, 1996). It is therefore not surprising that local impacts of badgers on hedgehogs have been studied (Doncaster, 1992; Doncaster, 1994; Micol et al., 1994; Ward et al., 1997; Young, 2005). It has for instance been revealed that hedgehogs disperse further if they are introduced in areas with a high badger density (Doncaster, 1992; Doncaster, 1994). Surveys carried out by Young et al. (2006) showed that hedgehogs were almost absent from suitable habitats in rural areas, supposedly due to high abundances of badgers. Micol et al. (1994) predicted that in areas where the mean badger density exceeds 2.27 setts per 10km2 (10km * 10km) hedgehogs would not persist. If this figure holds true, it means that hedgehog populations are at risk of extinction due to badger predation and/or competition in large parts of England. In the south west of England for instance the mean number of badger main setts can be as high as 6 to 7 per 10km2 (Wilson et al., 1997). It is suggested that urban areas provide refuges from badgers for hedgehogs (Young et al., 2006; Dowding, 2007). Badgers are mainly confined to rural areas although they occasionally dig setts in urban areas (Neal & Cheeseman, 1996). Recently however, the number of badgers in urban areas has been increasing (Delahay et al., 2009). predation pressure on hedgehogs in these areas. The question arises as to whether the increasing competition and predation due to rising numbers of badgers over the last decades (Wilson et al., 1997; Battersby, 2005; Delahay et al., 2009) has become one of the main reasons for the apparent decline in hedgehogs Although hedgehogs are present in higher abundances in arable landscapes, mainly due to the relative absence of badgers, it can be deduced from the movements of hedgehogs (chapter 4) and their habitat selection that they do not frequently use arable land itself. Radio tracking showed that hedgehogs appeared to be concentrated on the agri-environment field margins and in the hedgerows surrounding the arable fields, which they were reluctant to cross, or they (females especially) retreated within the village boundaries. It is thus thought likely that, in the absence of badgers, hedgehogs would be more numerous in landscapes dominated by pastures than is currently the case. Increasing the coverage of agri-environment field margins in arable landscapes would also benefit hedgehogs’.

the problem is, how do we get that info over to joe public?

 

[Danllan]

...For my own part, it is quite obvious here on my farm that as badgers have increased to become real pests, the hedgehog has disappeared from a once common species in the 1970's to one that I have not seen in some years. They disappeared in inverse proportion to the badger rising, along with many ground nesting birds...

No, their disappearance is directly proportional to the rise in the badger population.

 

[Cranman]

the problem is, how do we get that info over to joe public?

I have seen four items on hedgehog decline on the TV over recent years. On the BBC a series called ‘The Great British Wildlife Revival’, Ben Fogle (Badger Trust) told us that hedgehogs could be extinct in Britain by 2021. Predictably this was all down to habitat loss; no mention was made of badgers. Countryfile reported on Shepreth Animal Hospital returning hedgehogs to the wild in Cambridgeshire. The lady from the Hospital was interviewed about threats to hedgehogs. I rang the charity to ask why badgers were not mentioned, I was assured that they were, but that the BBC had edited it out! Packham’s (Badger Trust) take on ‘Springwatch’ was that, (after emphasising the importance of science [a sure sign of impending ‘creativity’]) ‘the wider things like landscape and farming’ are reducing hedgehogs to ‘minimum viable populations’, and then it could be just the ‘little things’ like predation by badgers that pushes them over the edge. Channel 5's Saving Britain's Hedgehogs was presented by Brian May (Badger Trust), enough said.

One can be forgiven for believing that the BBC particularly is ideologically determined to keep the public ignorant of the badger’s role in the decline of the hedgehog. Since this involves creative dishonesty, who better to do it than the Badger Trust themselves.

 

[Cowabunga]

I have seen four items on hedgehog decline on the TV over recent years. On the BBC a series called ‘The Great British Wildlife Revival’, Ben Fogle (Badger Trust) told us that hedgehogs could be extinct in Britain by 2021. Predictably this was all down to habitat loss; no mention was made of badgers. Countryfile reported on Shepreth Animal Hospital returning hedgehogs to the wild in Cambridgeshire. The lady from the Hospital was interviewed about threats to hedgehogs. I rang the charity to ask why badgers were not mentioned, I was assured that they were, but that the BBC had edited it out! Packham’s (Badger Trust) take on ‘Springwatch’ was that, (after emphasising the importance of science [a sure sign of impending ‘creativity’]) ‘the wider things like landscape and farming’ are reducing hedgehogs to ‘minimum viable populations’, and then it could be just the ‘little things’ like predation by badgers that pushes them over the edge. Channel 5's Saving Britain's Hedgehogs was presented by Brian May (Badger Trust), enough said.

One can be forgiven for believing that the BBC particularly is ideologically determined to keep the public ignorant of the badger’s role in the decline of the hedgehog. Since this involves creative dishonesty, who better to do it than the Badger Trust themselves.

We all know that there has been near zero habitat loss since the 1980's. Certainly not to agriculture. Indeed there has been great habitat gain through extended field margins forced on all arable farmers to comply with farm assurance and get their subsidy cheque. This is a very substantial increase in hedgehog friendly environment, so there must be something else wrong.
Here in grassland areas, where fields are an average of 8 acres or so, nothing has changed since the 1970's really. Most fields never see pesticides or anything like that, but the decline this century coincided exactly with the rise of big birds of prey and specifically the badger population, which is ridiculously high. I mean, you can't go more than a few miles in any direction of here without seeing a badger roadkill and that must be an indication of the population density. Roadkill doesn't even dent the population or its continued growth though. They make a hell of a mess on our grassland fields and even road margins scratching deep for bugs and worms. There's hardly any hedgehogs left for them to eat and its at least eight years since I saw one last.

 

[roscoe erf]

saw my first one here last week since 2010 also had some bees nest destroyed in the hedge row