Charities appeal for help with hedgehog study

A pair of British charities have called on the public to help discover if climate change is affecting the UK's hedgehogs.

The People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) are asking people to take part in a national survey designed to uncover whether environmental changes are affecting the habits of hedgehogs. The charities are specifically interested in when they are coming out of hibernation and what effect this is having on their wellbeing.

The number of hedgehogs in the UK fell from around 30 million in the 1950s to just 1.5 million in 1995. A report by the BBC said a significant factor was the spread of urban development and change of land use, but that climate change may be playing a part.

In the 1970s a survey was carried out by Dr Pat Morris at Royal Holloway, University of London, which suggested a link between climate change and hedgehog hibernation periods. A repeat of that work will begin on February 1 and it is hoped that the new results, when compared with those gathered 40 years ago, will shed more light on how climate change could be affecting the animals.  

People across the UK are being asked to help out and report hedgehog sightings through a dedicated website until August 31.

Please note, the contents of this news story are not supported or endorsed by The Co-operative Group.