Project: European Hedgehogs
Project • 11 November 2024
Target species: European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
Project Aim: To locate hedgehogs for a research project examining their behavior. More information will be shared in the future.
Location: Undisclosed
Project Partner: University of Exeter
Team members: Dan, Kylie, and Moose
European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are widespread across Europe, but in October 2024, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassified the species from "Least Concern" to "Near Threatened" on the Red List of Threatened Species, following a significant decline in their population. While the exact causes of their decline are not fully understood, contributing factors likely include pesticide use, habitat fragmentation, loss of hedgerows, vehicle collisions, and changes in farming practices.
To support the University of Exeter's research project, K9 Commando trained a conservation detection dog, Moose, to help locate European hedgehogs. Due to their nocturnal nature, hedgehogs can be challenging to find using traditional survey methods. Moose's superior olfactory capabilities proved invaluable in locating hedgehogs in areas that might otherwise have been missed, enabling researchers to gather more data.
University of Exeter