Plan to remove all hedgehogs from Hebridean isles

April 11, 2025 9:50 PM

Plan to remove all hedgehogs from Hebridean isles (islands off the coast of Scotland). A conservation project has secured nearly £100,000 towards removing every hedgehog from a group of islands in the Western Isles. The animals are not native to the Hebrides and are blamed for eating the eggs of ground-nesting birds, causing severe declines of several species. The hedgehogs will be trapped and relocated to the mainland, after first being given a health check and then tagged.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (6 comments total)

That's interesting - thanks for posting.
posted by paduasoy at 4:53 AM on April 12

"Dinsdale ..."
posted by ZenMasterThis at 5:50 AM on April 12 [6 favorites]

The do this here in NZ (go after bird's eggs) not natives either, sadly they are endemic, too many to get rid of
posted by mbo at 6:06 AM on April 12 [1 favorite]

We'll have some! We don't see them nearly so often where I live in the southern UK.
posted by dowcrag at 9:33 AM on April 12 [1 favorite]

I have a great fondness for hedgehogs, so I am especially glad to know they're relocating them instead of just trying to kill them.

I was intrigued to read:

An initial plan to cull them was quickly abandoned due to a public outcry.

Always good to be reminded that civic participation can be effective.

And also:

North Uist has been hedgehog-free since 2016.

Great to know that the program is effective.

Thanks for this, chariot pulled by cassowaries!
posted by kristi at 4:02 PM on April 12 [3 favorites]

It's nice that they can transport them vs. cull them. Sad that it's not possible to do the same with the brushtail possum (because NZ brushtail possums carry tuberculosis).
posted by rednikki at 7:16 AM on April 13 [1 favorite]