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A geographically extensive survey of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in England

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Abstract

A hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) survey was conducted in four regions of west and south-west England during the summer of 2006. In each region, surveys were conducted in a series of 15–18 survey areas each of which contained 1–4 paired amenity grassland (recreation ground, sports field, and village green) and permanent pasture survey sites. Each pair of survey sites was surveyed for hedgehogs using night-time lamped searches during two separate survey periods. Located hedgehogs were sexed, weighed, and aged. The density of hedgehogs on individual sites was based on the maximum number of hedgehogs recorded during any one of the two surveys. The occurrence of hedgehogs on pasture (2 % of fields) was much lower than that on amenity grassland (26 % of fields), resulting in mean densities of hedgehogs that were significantly greater on amenity grassland than on pasture in all four regions. The density of hedgehogs was 0.47 ± 0.09 ha−1 on amenity grassland and 0.04 ± 0.02 ha−1 on pasture (mean ± standard error). This study represents a geographically extensive and locally intensive hedgehog field survey in England and produces results that are spatially and temporally concurrent with wildlife surveys of another ecologically linked species, the badger (Meles meles).

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. We acknowledge all the landowners and farmers who permitted access to their land and thank all the field staff that took part in the project.

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Author notes

  1. Thomas R. Etherington

    Present address: School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand

  2. Julie Dendy

    Present address: Drey Consulting, The Drey, Haynes Close, Langley, Berkshire, SL3 8NA, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK

    Dave Parrott, Thomas R. Etherington & Julie Dendy

Authors
  1. Dave Parrott
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  2. Thomas R. Etherington
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  3. Julie Dendy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas R. Etherington.

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Communicated by C. Gortázar

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Parrott, D., Etherington, T.R. & Dendy, J. A geographically extensive survey of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in England. Eur J Wildl Res 60, 399–403 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-014-0795-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-014-0795-2

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