Factors affecting hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) attraction to rural villages in arable landscapes

Abstract

Although residential areas are often unfavourable for wildlife, some species can take advantage of the available shelter and anthropogenic sources of food such as supplementary feeding. The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is increasingly associated with gardens and villages and less so with arable farmland. Suggested drivers for this include the following: hedgehogs' attraction to higher food densities, including natural prey and anthropogenic sources, a greater range of day nest sites and warmer microclimates in rural villages, coupled with decreased risk of predation by badgers (Meles meles). We investigated the contribution of these drivers by radio-tracking hedgehogs on four arable sites, two with badgers present. Seventy-eight hedgehogs were tracked, 32 yielding enough data to calculate home range sizes. At the home range and landscape scales, gardens and buildings were the highest ranked habitats compared with their availability. Woodland and arable land were the lowest ranked compared with their availability. Villages were the most selected habitat for nesting. When hedgehogs were found closer to buildings, their ranges were smaller and we speculate this is due to increased food availability in villages. Where badgers were present hedgehogs remained closer to cover and their home ranges were on average 12.2 ha smaller. On badger-occupied sites, 50% fewer radio-tracking fixes were on arable land. We conclude that resource availability coupled with nest site selection and badger presence drives hedgehogs' selection of rural villages. We found no effect of ambient temperature on habitat use. We recommend focusing conservation efforts on maintaining hedgehog populations in rural villages.

The ecology of suburban juvenile European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in Denmark

“…The study of hedgehog ecology in urban areas is underrepresented in the literature, even though hedgehogs seem to prefer residential areas (Doncaster, Rondinini, & Johnson, ; Hubert, Julliard, Biagianti, & Poulle, ; Pettett, Moorhouse, Johnson, & Macdonald, ; van de Poel et al, ). This preference could be due to higher food densities affiliated with human occupation, including natural prey and anthropogenic sources, more suitable nest sites and a decreased risk of predation by badgers ( Meles meles ; Micol, Doncaster, & Mackinlay, ; Morris, ; Pettett et al, ; Young et al, ). In the UK, it is furthermore suggested that the hedgehog decline is currently more severe in the rural than urban areas (SoBH, ; Williams et al, ).…”

Listeria Monocytogenes Infection of Free-Living Western European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus Europaeus)

“…Immunocompromised people and pregnant women should take particular care when in contact with hedgehogs. Supplementary feeding of freeliving hedgehogs is an increasingly common practice; 14…”

An easy, flexible solution to attach devices to hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) enables long‐term high‐resolution studies

“…Previous studies have commonly used fast curing epoxy for the attachment of devices to hedgehogs (Abu Baker et al, ; Bontadina, ; Braaker, ; Braaker et al, ; Braaker, Obrist, Bontadina, & Moretti, ; Esser, ; Pettett, Johnson, et al, ; Pettett, Moorhouse, et al, ; Reeve, ; Warwick et al, ). However, the hot glue we used was more suitable to fix the back pack on the hedgehog's spines as it was easy, cheap, and fast curing.…”

“…This procedure is harmless because spines are made of keratin throughout and do not contain nerves or blood vessels. In contrast to previous studies of hedgehogs (Abu Baker, Reeve, Conkey, Macdonald, & Yamaguchi, ; Abu Baker et al, ; Braaker et al, ; Pettett, Johnson, et al, ; Pettett, Moorhouse, Johnson, & Macdonald, ; Reeve, ; Warwick et al, ), we used hot glue to attach the back plate because a mobile hot glue gun (neo1, Steinel Vertrieb GmbH, Herzebrock‐Clarholz, Germany) can be used very quickly and precisely and is cost effective. Hot glue sets within seconds and is therefore much faster and deliquesces much less than other commonly used and in this project previously tested glues and epoxies.…”