Report from Chris Smith
North Uist hedgehog cull falls short with a mere 26
By David Ross, Highland Correspondent, in the Herald, 24 th April 2003
Scottish Natural Heritage still has only found and exterminated 26 of the 200 hedgehogs it calculates are on North Uist, and it admitted yesterday that it does not expect to find many more
The agency insists it is too early to say that it has overestimated the numbers that need to be killed to protect the internationally important Uist waders, whose eggs have been prey to the spined incomers. However it said that it would be pleased if it had.
It has always been known that the vast majority of the 5000 Uist hedgehogs were on Benbecula and South Uist, where they were introduced 30 years ago to combat garden slugs. But they have been moving towards North Uist and that is where SNH is making a stand this year. In future years, the cull will be extended south.
George Anderson, SNH's spokesman, said last night that the low figures were to be expected at this stage, the third week of searching: 'The number of hedgehogs culled by the Uist wader Project (UWP) remains at 26, and we might not get any for the rest of this week. The lamping team last night searched an area of North Uist where there has never been a report of a hedgehog being seen. None was found.'
He said that hedgehog areas of North Uist would be searched three times by May 23, by which time too many hedgehogs would have dependent young for the cull, which is costing £90,000, to continue.
Meanwhile Tina Swindle, a nurse from St Tiggywinkles animal hospital, who is currently working at the Uist Hedgehog Rescue in the north of Benbecula, said yesterday that about 80 hedgehogs had been 'saved'.
© The Herald, 24 th April 2003
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