Hedgehog Survey | CEDaR Online Recording

Laurie Campbell

Citizen Science: Help the Hedgehog

The hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is one of Britain and Ireland’s most loved and charismatic species, a friendly visitor, found in both urban gardens and rural settings alike. Hedgehogs are protected under the wildlife NI 1985 (Schedule 6 and 7), which is further enhanced by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (NI) Act 2011 and is one of the priority species in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, studies have shown that the species has declined significantly in the UK and Ireland in recent years. Here at CEDaR we want to help the hedgehog and find out what is happening to our hedgehogs in Northern Ireland.

What can you do?

When was the last time you saw a hedgehog in your garden or around Northern Ireland? This information is vital to our understanding of the status of hedgehogs in Northern Ireland. Consequently we are asking you, as a member of the public to become a citizen scientist and submit any sightings of hedgehogs to our online recording system (including road kill). This will help to improve our understanding of hedgehogs and establish if there is a decline in Northern Ireland.

What to look out for?

The hedgehog has a short, rounded-looking body that is almost completely covered by a coat of about seven thousand dark-brown spines with lighter coloured tips. These are about 2cm in length and can be raised in defence. The head and underside are covered with coarse greyish hairs. The eyes and ears of the hedgehog are very small. It has a pointed and relatively mobile snout. The head and body length of a fully grown adult is about 250mm. Body weight can vary a great deal and is on average about 1kg. The hedgehog is able to roll up into a ball that protects its head, legs and soft underside. Hedgehogs are almost entirely nocturnal but are frequently seen at dawn and dusk. Nests are usually only built for the purposes of hibernation in winter and for rearing their young in summer. Outside of this the animals usually shelter in vegetation. Hibernation begins around October/November and ends during April.

Important: if you use this site regularly, please remember to login.

This will give you access to the My Records report which allows you to manage your data.

Please provide as much information as possible about your Hedgehog sighting(s).

Alive or Dead:

Abundance:

Certainty:

Please note: if you have had an expert confirm the identification of a record please add their name in the 'Determiner' field. This will help when the record is being verified.

Determiner:

Record comment:

Photos:

Your details.

Your contact details

First name: *

Last name: *

Email: *

Telephone Number:

Any additional recorder(s) names.

Name(s) of any additional recorder(s):

Date of your sighting.

Date of sighting (required): *

Please provide the spatial reference and site name for the record.

Search for a place on the map:

This gives us an approximate grid reference for the location. We'll then move the map so that you can click on it to provide an accurate position for the record(s). Note: contents of this field will not be retained as part of the record.

Spatial reference: *

By clicking on the map the spatial reference will autofill. The more you zoom in, the more accurate the grid reference.

Site name: *

For example the nearest town, village, park, nature reserve etc.
Do not enter a postal address as the information you provide will be visible to others.

Habitat:

Notes about using the map:
use the + sign on the right hand side of the map to change the base mapping used from Google to OpenStreetMap.
To create an accurate and useful record, use your mouse to drag the area of interest to the centre of the map window and use the zoombar on the left hand side to zoom in tight to the area where you made the sighting. When you have zoomed in, click on the location - this will autofill the Spatial Reference box above.