Report from Chris Smith
Rescued hedgehogs seem to be thriving
By James Freeman, Environment Correspondent in the Herald, 8 th May 2003
The Uist Hedgehog Rescue group claimed yesterday that most of the first batch of animals to be relocated on the Scottish mainland from Uist and Benbecula four weeks ago had survived and appeared to be thriving.
Rescuers have captured 110 hedgehogs on South Uist and Benbecula, 78 of which have been moved to the mainland by ferry. All have gone initially to Hessilhead Animal Rescue Centre, near Beith, Ayrshire, and 32 of the original batch were distributed to gardens of sympathisers in and around Glasgow and down to Kirkcudbright.
On North Uist, trappers from Scottish Natural heritage have captured 41 hedgehogs which were first anaesthetised and then killed by lethal injection in an effort to halt the devastation to wading bird populations.
SNH identified the alien hedgehogs, unknown on Uist until and islander brought in several to control garden slugs but now numbering an estimated 6000, as being responsible for reducing the protected wader populations by up to 70 % in recent years. The UK government could face severe EC fines for failing to protect the birds.
SNH had said that by six weeks into relocation more than half the hedgehogs would have died, but rescuers said the animals were doing fine.
© The Herald, 8 th May 2003
 |
 |
 |
| Return to index | Return to Exotic Scottish Animals | Return to Hedgehogs |