Newspaper Articles on our Native Hedgehogs

Prehistoric child is discovered buried with 'toy hedgehog' at StonehengeBy Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 9:42 AM on 10th October 2008

This toy hedgehog, found in a child's grave at Stonehenge, is proof of what we have always known - children have always loved to play.
The chalk figurine was probably a favourite possession of the three year old, and placed next to the child when they died in the late Bronze Age or early Iron Age, around 3,000 years ago.


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Can you guess what it is yet? This carved toy hedgehog was found by archaeologists digging near Stonehenge
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Archaeologists who discovered the grave, where the child was laying on his or her side, believe the toy - perhaps placed there by a doting father - is the earliest known depiction of a hedgehog in British history.
The diggers were working to the west of Stonehenge in what is known as the Palisade Ditch when they made the remarkable discovery last month in the top of the pit in which the child was buried.
Archaeologist Dennis Price said: 'It is not difficult to envisage the raw emotion and harrowing grief that would have accompanied the death of this child.

'Amid the aura of gloom that surrounds Stonehenge, it comes as a beam of light to find a child's toy lovingly placed with the tiny corpse to keep him or her company through eternity.

'I'm not aware of hedgehogs having any significance in pagan tradition so the discovery must rank as yet another unique and baffling aspect of one of the most famous and instantly recognisable prehistoric monuments on Earth. To my mind, the hedgehog possesses a real charm and an innocent beauty. '

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Burial ground: The toy hedgehog was dug up here

Dr Joshua Pollard, of the Stonehenge Riverside Project, said: 'Representational art from this period is very rare and so far as I'm aware, if the identification is correct, it's the only known prehistoric depiction of a hedgehog from Britain.'
Fay Vass, of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, said: 'We are very excited to hear about this find. It shows humans have taken hedgehogs to their hearts for a very long time.'

How interesting ... I would have thought chalk would have crumpled over the centurys .. and if it was stone then surely it would have been to heavy for a child to carry .

Brilliant post Helen .x

how can they recognize that as a hedgehog.

Well I did think that but hey ho, had to use my imagination!

Dramatic decline of one of the nation's favourite creatures: 300,000 fewer hedgehogs in Britain than a decade ago
By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 5:17 PM on 10th November 2010

The hedgehog is in dramatic decline - with around 300,000 fewer in Britain than a decade ago.
Some 50,000 of the spiky creatures die on our roads every year and the animal could be under threat as a species within a few years.
In addition, more intensive farming practices are destroying the hedgehog's habitat in rural areas.

People's Trust for Endangered Species watched for dead hedgehogs on our roads and noticed that the numbers fell by almost a third in the past decade.

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Spiky subject: There are a third fewer hedgehogs on Britain's roads than there were a decade ago - and Sega, who created Sonic the Hedgehog are trying to help the animal's plight

From an average of 1.8 hedgehogs recorded per 100 kms (62 miles) in 2001 there were only 1.3 last year. It is thought only around a million hedgehogs remain in Britain.

The slump in casualty sightings came despite a marked increase in traffic on the 250,000 miles of roads monitored.

The greatest decline has been in Wales where the numbers sighted dropped 78 per cent from 3.2 per 100kms in 2001 to 0.7 in 2009.

Scotland has seen a 37 per cent fall from 6.3 to 4.0 and the East of England a 28 per cent drop from 2.5 to 1.8.

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Drastic decline: There are now only about one million hedgehogs in Britain - and there are 300,000 fewer around than there were in 2001

The charity's lead researcher David Wembridge said: 'The level of our concern about hedgehog numbers is growing because of the mounting evidence of decline in their population.

'All the indications are that something is going wrong and that in a few decades time, the hedgehog might be under threat as a species.

'In rural areas, more intensive farming practices and larger fields are reducing the hedgehog's natural habitat and the prey like slugs and centipedes that it feeds on.

'And our best guess from research is that 50,000 hedgehogs die on our roads each year.

'It is hard to monitor the hedgehog because it is a nocturnal creature, so road casualties are the best evidence of population.

'The number of cars on the roads is rising but we are still seeing a decline in sightings of casualties, which suggests that the population is declining quite dramatically.

'We are trying to encourage farmers to get involved in conservation schemes and encouraging gardeners to set aside undisturbed areas such as compost heaps or wood piles where hedgehogs can thrive.'

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Dangers: Another reason for the decline of hedgehogs is thought to be because of more intensive farming practices which destroy the hedgehog's habitat in rural areas.
And video gaming giant Sega, who created the hit Sonic the hedgehog, have teamed up with the Trust to highlight the animal's plight.
They created a 'hedgehog road crossing' in Twickenham, south-west London, to coincide with the release of its new game Sonic Colours, starring Sonic the Hedgehog.

Four hedgehogs tested the crossing as a lollipop lady stood guard.

The hedgehogs' handler Trevor Smith said: 'Our hedgehogs had great fun ruling the roads for the day with the hedgehog crossing and it will hopefully encourage everyone to do their bit in helping the hedgehogs of Britain stick around for years to come.'

Sega's Anna Downing said: 'Hedgehogs are an intrinsic part of British wildlife and with Sonic the Hedgehog such an institution we thought he was the perfect figure to raise awareness of their plight.

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In the News
Our hedgehogs are in decline
By Claire Williams

In the news

31 May 2011 15:35


Our favorite midnight garden visitors could soon become a rare sight as a report finds that hedgehog numbers are down by 25%

Hedgehog numbers have declined by a quarter in the past decade, a report indicated today.

The study into hedgehogs found they were declining in both rural and urban areas, with evidence now "very strong that hedgehogs are in trouble", reports The Press Association.

Conservation groups issued the warning over the plight of hedgehogs- which are already listed as a species in need of targeted conservation action - as they launch a scheme to encourage people to make their gardens and neighbourhoods more "hedgehog-friendly".

The report by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) for the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), looked at a series of surveys which all showed hedgehog numbers declining in recent years.

The research also indicated hedgehogs have suffered huge long-term declines across Britain, with numbers falling from an estimated 30 million in the 1950s to just 1.5 million by 1995.

Conservationists say hedgehogs have been hit by the loss of habitat such as hedgerows and grassland, more intensive agriculture, the use of pesticides which have reduced their food and the presence of more badgers in the countryside.

Urban and suburban areas are becoming increasingly important for hedgehogs, but tidier, more sterile gardens divided up with impassable fences and walls also pose a problem for them.

Members of the public are being urged to get involved with the Hedgehog Street campaign, which includes taking simple steps to make their gardens more hedgehog-friendly.

Measures which will make gardens more welcoming to hedgehogs include providing hedgehog houses, leaving rough, untidy patches for shelter and planting hedges instead of fences or walls, or even making holes in existing barriers.

Fay Vass, chief executive of the BHPS, said: "Gardens have become far too tidy in recent years, paved over for parking, or enclosed within impenetrable fences and walls.

"Hedgehogs typically travel about a mile each night in order to gather food and search for a mate, so they need the freedom to move between different areas.

"Artificial barriers such as solid fences and walls prevent movement around their home range. Furthermore, loss of natural habitat means there is nowhere for them to forage or hibernate.

"Relatively simple actions will ensure success for the survival of these increasingly threatened creatures."

And Laura Bower, PTES conservation officer and campaign organiser, said: "23 million households have access to a garden in the UK covering around 433,000 hectares.

"Reaching a modest 0.1% of these could lead to the creation of a hedgehog refuge larger than the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve."

She added that hedgehogs were important because their presence indicated a healthy landscape with lots of insects.

The People's Trust and BHPS will also be funding a series of research projects over the next three years to get a better idea of the reasons behind the hedgehog's decline and what can be done to reverse it.

isnt one ov them hogs an aph and one wildie??? haha!! on the crossing

and the last pic has big ears!!

The last looks a mixed breed . I have a idea but will post in staff room .x

What is happening to our hedgehogs?

When did you last see a hedgehog? For some time anecdotal evidence has pointed to the absence of hedgehogs from gardens and countryside. Results from PTES’ Mammals on Roads survey is also showing direct evidence that hedgehogs in rural England, and probably Wales, are declining at a very rapid rate.

How serious is the decline and what’s causing it? To find out PTES and BHPS are carrying out a nationwide public participation survey of hedgehogs called HogWatch. The aim of HogWatch is to create a map of the distribution of hedgehogs across the UK. Hedgehogs are not found everywhere. For example where conditions in the countryside appear unsuitable for them they seem to be clustered in and around villages. In some regions they are clearly found in more places than in others. Many of you get hedgehogs visiting your garden and we would like you to let us know if you do. We would also like you to look out for hedgehogs in the wider countryside.

To create an accurate distribution map it is just as important for us to know the location of where you haven’t seen hedgehogs as where you have. Of course you can only say that you haven’t seen a hedgehog in a place that you have regularly looked - therefore we would also like to know if you haven’t had any hedgehogs visiting your garden all year. So please still submit your survey forms even if you have haven’t had any hedgehogs visiting your garden this year.

If you wish to contact us or register your details for further surveys please email us at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].




If you would prefer to be sent a paper form either send an email with your contact details to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] or phone on 020 7498 4533 [/b]

What is happening to our hedgehogs?
When did you last see a hedgehog? For some time anecdotal evidence has pointed to the absence of hedgehogs from gardens and countryside. Results from PTES’ Mammals on Roads survey is also showing direct evidence that hedgehogs in rural England, and probably Wales, are declining at a very rapid rate.

How serious is the decline and what’s causing it? To find out PTES and BHPS are carrying out a nationwide public participation survey of hedgehogs called HogWatch. The aim of HogWatch is to create a map of the distribution of hedgehogs across the UK. Hedgehogs are not found everywhere. For example where conditions in the countryside appear unsuitable for them they seem to be clustered in and around villages. In some regions they are clearly found in more places than in others. Many of you get hedgehogs visiting your garden and we would like you to let us know if you do. We would also like you to look out for hedgehogs in the wider countryside.

To create an accurate distribution map it is just as important for us to know the location of where you haven’t seen hedgehogs as where you have. Of course you can only say that you haven’t seen a hedgehog in a place that you have regularly looked - therefore we would also like to know if you haven’t had any hedgehogs visiting your garden all year. So please still submit your survey forms even if you have haven’t had any hedgehogs visiting your garden this year.

If you wish to contact us or register your details for further surveys please email us at [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.].

RSPCA hibernation project boosts hedgehogs' survival
By Staff reporterLast updated 12/14/2010 4:10:10 PM


RSPCA hibernation project boosts hedgehogs survivalA new RSPCA project is to explore hedgehog hibernation patterns to help animal welfare groups know how best to take care of them over the winter months and so boost their chances of survival.

The study follows more than 40 hedgehogs in the wild with tiny transmitters so that behaviour, location and sleep patterns can be tracked and analysed to see how well they cope.

Wildlife officer Richard Thompson said: "We are all really excited about this project. It could make quite a difference to what we know about hedgehogs' winter habits and so help us with how we care for them."

The animals typically have a bit of a tough time during the winter, especially when there are such treacherous extremes as there have been recently, but there really is not that much information out there about them – this kind of study has never been done before.

Hedgehogs hibernate around late November, early December and rehabilitated animals are normally released up until then so that they can enjoy their long sleep in their natural habitat.However, autumn' hoglets, or those born in a second litter, can be too small to hibernate at this time as they don't have enough weight to draw on and last them through a whole winter.

These latecomers are typically kept in wildlife centres over the winter and then re-introduced to the wild in the spring, when the hibernation season is over.

The decision about whether and when to bring these animals into wildlife centres is usually based on the hedgehog‟s weight. The RSPCA usually recommends that if the hedgehog is under the target weight of 500 grams then it needs to come in.

Senior Scientific Officer Adam Grogan said: "This new research should help us when advising whether hedgehogs need to brought into care by providing more information on how they survive hibernation. Our ethos has always been to keep wildlife wild. We hope that these hedgehogs can teach us ways of helping other hedgehogs through this difficult time."

Crossbow attack on hedgehogs

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An assailant believed to be armed with a crossbow has killed six hedgehogs in Cambridge in what the RSPCA has condemned as "one of the most malicious incidents of animal cruelty". The dead creatures were found lined up in a row on Yarrow Road in the Cherry Hinton area of Cambridge on Tuesday night.This comes a week after three hedgehogs were found stabbed to death also in Cherry Hinton.

Richard Lythgoe, RSPCA inspector, told the Cambridge News: "This is one of the most malicious incidents of animal cruelty which I have had to deal with. The bodies of six adult hedgehogs have been found lined up in a row on clear display for everyone to see."

He added that there were "hole marks on each of their bodies which could not have been caused by an animal attack. Our initial thoughts are that these hedgehogs could have been shot with a crossbow - which is clearly very worrying."

Tracy Okten, a local resident who was contacted by the finder of the hedgehogs, was "horrified" by the discovery, stating that ""They are obviously deranged psychopaths, whoever is doing it."

A police spokeswoman said: "We had a call at 7.50pm on Tuesday from a member of the public reporting six dead hedgehogs along Yarrow Road near to a bus stop. The animals had been left in a row."

Police are currently working with the RSPCA in gathering evidence to find the perpetrators.

Elle Dickinson

Image: Owen Massey McKnight


This article was posted on Sunday, July 3rd, 2011. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS 2.0 feed.

Cross bow .... the person who did that really needs a cross brow straight through his balls that is horrific i do remember reading about it somewhere ... how can people treat animals in this way .. shocking !!!!

Bloody fantastic imformative post thou Hel ...x

Just trying to show why our native hoggies really do need our help x

I read the headlines when that was in the paper but didn't read anymore,it winds me up and I end up in a mood all morning and take it out on the poor customers, really are some sick b*****ds out there hope someone sticks them with a crossbow

caring for the orphaned hedgehog PricklePin


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These orphaned baby hedgehogs have adopted a cleaning brush because it reminds them of their mother. I've tried introducing Socrates Churchill Pricklepin (the orphaned hoglet we are caring for) to our cleaning brush, but he has taken absolutely no notice of it. Maybe he doesn't like the smell of our floor! I have found all kinds of exciting things for him to smell and he has been building nests for himself out of grass and pieces of newspaper He rolls himself in the grass and catches it on his prickle to gather it together. He is treating the newspaper in a similar fashion... the rustling noise is unbelievably loud for such a small creature.


Here he is emerging from his nest.. which is in a little cardboard box... (He sometimes makes nests in a bucket.

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and here he is all snuggled up in a fuffy towel after his bath


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At the moment I am feeling quite sad because the time for him to be released is looming very close and I have realised he is going to leave an enormous hole in our lives. I spend hours just lying on the carpet in semi-darkness watching him, because he is so unbelievably beautiful. Part of his beauty is that he is wild and it has felt very good to know that we have saved his life. I know he is going to just love being free to roam about the forest. He is going to be released into the garden of a caring person who lives beside the forest. That way he can be regularly fed to maker sure he survives. I can't believe how much I am going to miss him.