Hedgehog Protection

A new project in Northern Ireland is using tiny backpacks to track and protect hedgehogs. The project, run by Ulster Wildlife, aims to find out where hedgehogs go at night, how many gardens they visit, and where they eat and sleep.

Tiny Backpacks

The tiny backpacks are small GPS tracking devices that are attached to the hedgehogs' backs and removed safely after a few days. Researchers say the devices do not harm the hedgehogs and do not bother them.

Sniffer Dogs

The project also includes Ireland's first hedgehog detection dog, which is specially trained to track hedgehogs and find lost or malfunctioning devices.

Hedgehog Facts

Hedgehogs have some amazing features. For example, they have superhuman hearing and can travel long distances at night, visiting many gardens.

Importance of Hedgehog Protection

Protecting hedgehogs is crucial because their population has decreased by millions over the past 50 years. Katy Bell, senior conservation officer at Ulster Wildlife, said the hedgehog population has declined by 'millions'.

Project Goals

The project aims to find out where hedgehogs go at night and use this information to help protect them. The project also aims to help people make their gardens hedgehog-friendly, for example by creating hedgehog roads and log piles to help them feed.