Galwegians urged to get counting their hedegogs!

Community support is vital

PEOPLE in Galway are being encouraged to take part in the inaugural Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count.

The initiative, which is being run by Hedgehog Conservation Ireland alongside researchers at the University of Galway and University of Oxford, is aimed at helping scientists better understand the status of Ireland’s hedgehog population.

Since Monday June 8, members of the public have been encouraged to keep an eye out for hedgehogs in their gardens, parks, farms, estates, campuses and public green spaces, and report sightings online.

The nationwide citizen science campaign aims to build a clearer picture of where hedgehogs are still thriving across Ireland and where populations may be under pressure. Participants can submit sightings via irishhedgehogsurvey.com.

“Public participation is vital because hedgehogs are nocturnal animals and monitoring them on a large scale would be impossible without community support,” explained the project’s lead researcher Elaine O’Riordan from the University of Galway.

“Every record helps us understand where hedgehogs are living and how populations are changing over time.

“Gardens and green spaces are becoming increasingly important refuges for wildlife, and we’re encouraging everyone to keep an eye out during the count week.”

Hedgehogs play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by naturally helping to control populations of insects, slugs and other garden pests, making them an important part of Ireland’s biodiversity.

The Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count is part of a growing national effort to better understand and protect Ireland’s hedgehogs, whose numbers are believed to be declining due to habitat loss, road traffic, pesticides and changes in land use.

“If you do not have a garden yourself, you can look for hedgehogs in the local park, or travel to the forest or the countryside,” commented Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen from the University of Oxford, who is also known as Dr Hedgehog.

“And if you are young and cannot stay up late when the hedgehogs become active, you can also report road-killed hedgehogs - every record counts and helps us build a better understanding of where hedgehogs are found.

“It is very important that we do not disturb the hedgehogs during the count. We do not want to risk any nests being disrupted or stressing the animals.

“Please wait for hedgehogs to appear naturally on the lawn when they become active at dusk and admire them from a distance.”

Organisers hope the event will not only gather valuable scientific data but also encourage more people to connect with local wildlife and make their gardens and communities more hedgehog-friendly by creating safe spaces for nature to thrive.

The Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count is expected to become an annual event.

For more information about how to take part, visit hedgehogsireland.com.