Hedgehog numbers 'in nose-dive'

Either that or it had just fainted.

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Great mental picture :rollin

The next morning, it had disappeared. Must have made a nice snack for a fox or something. Either that or it had just fainted.

He stopped half way and died.

Did you get a puncture?

I saw one walk across my drive a few days ago. He stopped half way and died.

Thought I'd share that with you all.

Is this another cloaked reference to beaver shaving again?

Have I missed something? :\

Noticed when wandering abouts that a good few hedgehogs have been caught by them lawn mowers they use on the grass verges.

Although the magpies seemed to like it.

I blame the manufacturers of hedgehog flavoured crisps...

one hell of a noise

Have you ever heard hedgehog courtship/shaggin? They kick up one hell of a noise.

Are you sure that wasn't threaded with his Danish? You're only 400 miles from the epicentre, you know.

hogs

> They kick up one hell of a noise.

Not suprising -- those things on their backs are sharp!

Re: hedgehogs

Have you ever heard hedgehog courtship/shaggin? They kick up one hell of a noise.

hedgehogs

When I was young on holidays in some southern part of USSR we seen hedgehogs and they were coming out to drink milk

We've got a veggie hedgehog.

Mrs. Fiddle saw it eating some birdseed so she put out a bit of dogmeat for the next evening. It ignored that completely and chomped some more birdseed. This one was pretty small so probably a 2005 model. We must also get some older ones though judging by the size and quantity of hedgehog tulipe that appears on the lawn.

If they like things natural, how come there seem to be so many more of them in the cities and suburbs?

Never seen a hedgehog since moving to the country in 1982. Used to get them in our garden a lot in London and have seen a few on contract in various towns/cities. It is quite clear they find the country dull and are much more at home with town pursuits such as discos and shopping at Harrods.

Hedgehog numbers 'in nose-dive'
Hedgehog, PA



Hedgehogs do not like tidy gardens (AtW: they must like mine then...)

Hedgehog numbers across the UK are falling, particularly in the east of the country, a survey has found.

According to the Mammals Trust UK, hedgehog numbers have dropped steeply since 2001, when a survey to spot animals on roads began.

The idea behind the study is that the quantity of hedgehogs on roads can indicate the size of the UK population.

Experts say that, amongst other factors, tidier decked gardens are responsible for the animals' decline.

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If the hedgehog is declining so will many other species with similar needs
Dr Paul Bright, Royal Holloway
Dr Valerie Keeble of the Mammals Trust UK (MTUK) said people should leave their gardens a bit haphazard to encourage the animals' return.

"Don't be too tidy in your garden," she told BBC News. "Leave some rough areas and leave a few bushes and hedges, and twigs on the ground.

"Make sure there is plenty of stuff for them to make their nests with; leave leaves and twigs lying about, that kind of thing."

Public appeal

In England as a whole, hedgehog numbers along roads have dropped by over 20% since 2001, the Mammals on Roads survey has found.

"It is of great concern to see that the decline in hedgehog numbers is continuing," said Jill Nelson, chief executive of MTUK.

"However we hope the public will react positively to this unfortunate news by choosing to assist us by taking part in this year's survey."

This year's survey begins on Friday and will run to the end of September. Anybody using roads around the UK is asked to take note of how many hedgehogs they see - dead or alive - on stretches of single carriageway roads, on journeys of 20 miles or more.

Dr Paul Bright of Royal Holloway, University of London, said: "It is important to continue to monitor hedgehogs and determine why their numbers are changing, not only to ensure that we safeguard this species in the future, but also because if the hedgehog is declining so will many other species with similar needs.

"Mammals on Roads is currently the only survey able to monitor hedgehog numbers on a national scale."

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I like hedgehogs, have never seen them here though