The Western European hedgehog—a charming, spiky little creature often spotted in gardens—faces a troubling decline. Increasingly, these nocturnal mammals find themselves navigating perilous roads as their natural habitats shrink due to human encroachment.
- Advertisement -
Today, an updated Red List of Threatened Species was unveiled during the UN’s COP16 biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia. This new listing has tragically lowered the hedgehog’s conservation status from “least concern” to “near threatened.” This shift indicates a growing urgency for conservation efforts.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the next tier on this vital list is “vulnerable,” followed closely by “endangered.” Sophisticated expert Sophie Rasmussen pointed out to AFP, “We’re extremely close to that ‘vulnerable’ designation. It’s quite likely we’ll see that happen in the next assessment.”
Recent estimates reveal a staggering decline of 35% to 40% in hedgehog populations across Great Britain, Sweden, and Norway over the last decade, as shared by Ms. Rasmussen, who conducts research at Oxford University’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit. Alarmingly, hedgehogs in the Netherlands are already classified as endangered.
The primary culprit behind this decline? Cars. The rise of road networks has led to tragic encounters between these little hedgehogs and vehicles, forcing them closer to urban sprawl, where danger lurks at every corner. “Humans pose the greatest threat to hedgehogs,” declared Ms. Rasmussen.
As nocturnal creatures, hedgehogs employ several survival tactics to dodge predators like badgers, foxes, and owls. When danger lurks, they often resort to a standstill, carefully gauging the threat before deciding whether to flee or curl into a protective ball. Armed with as many as 8,000 needle-like spines, this defense mechanism works well against many foes. Still, against a speeding car, it proves woefully inadequate. “You can’t really outsmart a vehicle,” joked Ms. Rasmussen—affectionately known as Dr. Hedgehog—in a video chat from Lejre, Denmark.
Additional hazards include the widespread use of pesticides by farmers and hobby gardeners, alongside a concerning reduction in the insect population, which constitutes a significant part of the hedgehog’s diet. Under typical circumstances, hedgehogs live around two years, though some lucky individuals have reached ages between nine and twelve.
These creatures can begin breeding at about a year old, typically producing three to five adorable hoglets per litter. Ms. Rasmussen observed, “This means a hedgehog may breed just once or, at best, twice during its life—barely enough to keep their population stable.” It’s a precarious situation, and soon it may not even suffice.
With habitats rapidly disappearing, Ms. Rasmussen stressed that the battle to save hedgehogs “will ultimately unfold in people’s backyards.” She encouraged homeowners to establish “hedgehog highways,” simple access points in fences that allow these creatures to venture safely in and out of gardens, coupled with water bowls and nesting materials like garden clippings.
“Letting your garden’s natural state thrive is paramount. This will invite all the nutritious goodies hedgehogs love—like insects, worms, snails, and slugs,” she emphasized. Yet, Ms. Rasmussen acknowledges, “The end of the world isn’t imminent if hedgehogs disappear tomorrow.”
However, she posed a thought-provoking question: “For a species so adored and cherished, can we genuinely accept that we are driving them toward extinction? And if we allow this to happen with a species that resonates with us, what fate awaits those less beloved?”
The newly updated Red List evaluated a staggering 166,061 plant and animal species, revealing that over 46,337, which is more than a quarter, face the ominous threat of extinction. It’s a stark reminder of the fragility of our natural world, pushing us to rethink how we coexist with our precious wildlife.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
