![]() Urban hedgehogs are thought to have declined in number by 25 per cent between 20, but despite the high incidence of hedgehog road deaths in towns and cities, this decline seems to have now stabilised, and urban populations may even be starting to recover. It’s clear that thousands of hedgehogs are killed on roads every year, and that these roads, plus modern farming methods and fewer hedgerows, contribute to fragmentation of hedgehog habitats.īut there seems to be better news in urban areas, where about a fifth of Great Britain’s hedgehogs are thought to live. The hedgehog is classed as vulnerable by the Red List for Britain’s Mammals, and while it is difficult to reliably estimate hedgehog numbers, it’s thought that since 2000, hedgehog numbers in rural areas have declined by between 30 and 75 per cent. The West European hedgehog is common on mainland Europe, but this isn’t the case in the UK. This hedgehog is kept as a pet, and you can tell it apart from the West European hedgehog by its white fur. It was also introduced by 19th-century English colonists to New Zealand, where they are a threat to native wildlife.ĭepending on where in the world you live – and perhaps your knowledge of children’s books by Beatrix Potter – the species you might be most familiar with is the African pygmy hedgehog ( Atelerix albiventris), which is much-loved on YouTube. The West European hedgehog ( Erinaceus europaeus) is the only species in the UK and has a broad range across Europe, from Portugal to Russia. There are 17 different species of hedgehog living across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. What species of hedgehog lives in the UK? ![]() To receive the free New Scientist wildlife newsletter in your inbox every month, sign up here. This adapted extract from June’s Wild Wild Life newsletter explains what we know about this popular animal and what you can do to help it. The light evenings of summer are a perfect time to look out for hedgehogs in UK gardens. West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
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