Wildlife experts in the Channel Islands say warmer temperatures are leading to fewer hedgehogs hibernating and more being infested with parasites.
The Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group (JHPG) said milder winters have lead to the mammals’ food sources remaining available, meaning hibernation is less necessary.
Alderney Wildlife Trust (AWT) said higher temperatures were likely to increase the number of parasites on hedgehogs, which cause the creatures to be underweight and so needing to forage through the winter months.
I was having some terrible trouble with slugs on my courgettes this year until a family of hedgehogs moved to the area, hadn’t seen any since I moved here a couple years back but suddenly there were multiple reports of hedgehog sightings by myself and the neighbours. And yeah sure enough within a couple of weeks the slug population had pretty much gone.
Speak to the neighbours about a hedgehog highway., perhaps get a hedgehog house. It all helps.
