A hedgehog is a popular garden visitor but a new survey suggested that its population may have dropped by 30 percent since 2003 in the United Kingdom.
"BBC Gardeners' World" magazine 2016 wildlife survey found that only 29 percent of the 2,348 participants have seen a hedgehog in their garden lot in the past year, compared to the 32 percent in the previous year.
An alarming 48 percent said they have never seen a hedgehog. Moreover, just one in 10 people reported to regularly seeing the favorite garden visitor in their garden homes.
In the 1950s, there was estimated 36 million hedgehog population. Since 2003, the overall hedgehog population in the UK is less than 1 million. Sadly, the numbers continue to drop steadily.
Hedgehog eats slugs and caterpillars, which make them beneficial to gardeners. The much-loved garden visitor has been immortalized as Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle in Beatrix Potter's book "The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle."
When the participants were asked to choose one animal species in the UK they would like to save, 52 percent voted for the hedgehog. The survey findings suggest that people would love to save the hedgehogs from its seemingly increasing decline in population. It beat other at-risk species such as the mistle thrush, sparrow, puffin and the hairy-footed bumblebee.
But that's not all. It seems that the much-loved hedgehog really has a special place not just in the gardens but also in the hearts of gardeners in the UK.
Seven out of 10 said they are willing to make small hole in their garden fences so the hedgehogs can roam at their leisure and help stop the increasing population demise.
"The much loved, humble hog is among gardeners' most appealing natural allies, but they're disappearing on our watch," said "BBC Gardeners' World" editor Lucy Hall.
Hall said there are many simple things people can do to make gardens a haven for the hedgehogs. These steps include making a small opening in the garden fences and dedicating a small, isolated area for hibernation and nesting.
The poll results were published in the "BBC Gardeners' World" magazine's 25th anniversary edition. It also included tips on to help save the hedgehogs which includes keeping ponds safe and gardens slug pellets-free. Other tips include leaving them cat or dog food but without milk and bread that are deadly to the hedgehogs.
Hall stressed that a collective action today can help save the hedgehogs from extinction. Time is crucial, people need to act now to ensure that the future generation can also enjoy garden visits from the hedgehogs.
Photo: Milo Bostock | Flickr
