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Islanders are being asked to record the last time they saw a hedgehog amid concerns they may have significantly declined in Jersey.
The much-loved country and garden creatures have been listed as “vulnerable” on Britain's red list of mammals, with the population believed to have shrunk by up to 30% in urban areas and 50% in rural areas over the last 20 years.
Jersey’s Hedgehog Preservation Group is concerned that there has been a similar decline in hedgehogs on the island, similar to the falling numbers in Britain.
Preservationists are now encouraging the public to complete an online survey recording the last hedgehogs they saw. It will be compared to data collected in 2007 and 2012, aiming to establish whether or not there has been a significant drop in recent years.
CLICK HERE to complete the survey.
The Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group has issued some garden advice to help people to help our spiky friends thrive:
Place bowls of clean fresh water on the ground.
If you have a pond, make sure there is a shallow area for the hedgehog to fall in and get out - they’re good at climbing and swimming, but would need support like a piece of wood to help them climb out.
Check the garden for our spikey friends, before attempting gardening work.
Check bonfires before lighting – Remember a hedgehog’s defence mechanism is to roll into a ball rather than run away from danger!
If you want to feed our friendly visitors, small size dog or cat biscuits will be greatly received. Cover the food with a small box – this will allow the hedgehogs in but not others like cats, dogs and gulls.
Hedgehogs like to travel up to a couple of miles each night before coming back to their nest. To enable this, you can provide a 13cm hole in your fence, gate or wall.
Hedgehogs generally move around at night, not because they are worried about predators, but because that is when their food supplies are around.
If you spot a hedgehog during the day – it might be sick or injured and need help.
Photo: Islanders are being asked to complete a survey about the last hedgehogs they saw.
If you spot a large hedgehog walking with purpose in the daytime, maybe carrying leaves or grass in her mouth – her youngsters are somewhere nearby.
Do not attempt to remove her as her babies will be expecting her to look after them.
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