A geographically extensive survey of hedgehogs E

Authors: Dave Parrott Thomas R Etherington Julie Dendy

Publish Date: 2014/01/22

Volume: 60, Issue: 2, Pages: 399-403

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Abstract

A hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus survey was conducted in four regions of west and southwest England during the summer of 2006 In each region surveys were conducted in a series of 15–18 survey areas each of which contained 1–4 paired amenity grassland recreation ground sports field and village green and permanent pasture survey sites Each pair of survey sites was surveyed for hedgehogs using nighttime lamped searches during two separate survey periods Located hedgehogs were sexed weighed and aged The density of hedgehogs on individual sites was based on the maximum number of hedgehogs recorded during any one of the two surveys The occurrence of hedgehogs on pasture 2  of fields was much lower than that on amenity grassland 26  of fields resulting in mean densities of hedgehogs that were significantly greater on amenity grassland than on pasture in all four regions The density of hedgehogs was 047 ± 009 ha−1 on amenity grassland and 004 ± 002 ha−1 on pasture mean ± standard error This study represents a geographically extensive and locally intensive hedgehog field survey in England and produces results that are spatially and temporally concurrent with wildlife surveys of another ecologically linked species the badger Meles meles

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