A groundbreaking initiative in Northern Ireland is using GPS technology to track hedgehogs, aiming to safeguard the species' future. The spiky garden visitors, once common, are now classified as near threatened across Europe, with declining numbers due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and road accidents.
Project Details
Conservation charity Ulster Wildlife is leading the project, fitting selected hedgehogs with lightweight GPS tags under license from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. The tags, attached temporarily like backpacks, are removed after a few days without causing harm. Only male hedgehogs are chosen to avoid disturbing nesting females.
Understanding Hedgehog Behavior
The technology allows researchers to map nightly movements, including gardens visited, roads crossed, and feeding and resting areas. Initial results show hedgehogs traveling through multiple gardens and crossing busy roads, highlighting the challenges they face.
Katy Bell, senior conservation officer at Ulster Wildlife, said: "After long nights patiently staking out gardens, the initial results have been absolutely fascinating. We're seeing hedgehogs travel through multiple gardens in a single night and cross busy roads – a heart-in-the-mouth moment that shows the reality of the challenges these at-risk mammals face."
Support and Training
The project is supported by Power NI and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) through the carrier bag levy. Additionally, the first hedgehog detection dog for Ireland is being trained by Conservation Detection Dogs NI to help locate hedgehogs and retrieve fallen tags.
Lucy McCullough of Power NI said: "We are delighted to support this pioneering project, which will provide vital insights into the lives of hedgehogs in Northern Ireland and help protect a species that is increasingly at risk."
Future Plans
Ulster Wildlife aims to tag several hedgehogs before autumn hibernation, using a survey protocol designed with Nottingham Trent University. The data will inform conservation actions and wildlife-friendly urban planning.
Maureen Carvill, wildlife gardening officer, added: "For the first time, we'll be able to work with households using real, Northern Ireland-specific hedgehog data. This will help people make simple changes like creating wildlife corridors or 'hedgehog highways' and reducing harmful substances like slug pellets."
The charity encourages residents to report hedgehog sightings at ulsterwildlife.org/report-sightings.
