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The National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme

What is the National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme?

Sadly, our much-loved hedgehogs are threatened, having undergone considerable population declines in recent decades. To reverse this trend, we need to remove the threats they face and put in place practical conservation measures. But before we can do this effectively we need to understand where and why hedgehogs are struggling. That’s why PTES and BHPS, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, Zoological Society of London, Mammal Web, London HogWatch and Durham University, have launched a new National Hedgehog Monitoring Programme (NHMP).

The NHMP is an exciting new pilot project, that will, for the first time, produce robust hedgehog population estimates. Where previous large-scale surveys give us information on where hedgehogs are, this new survey will tell us how many there are.  Surveys that indicate only where hedgehogs are present, don’t reveal how that population is faring until it has disappeared, but monitoring numbers can give us warning if the population is in trouble. We’ll also look at regional and habitat differences in hedgehog populations, to identify what factors impact them. With this knowledge, we will make effective conservation plans, so that we can reverse the decline of this iconic species.

A hedgehog captured on camera by the NHMP
A hedgehog captured on camera by the NHMP

How will it work?

We’re working with volunteer partner organisations to coordinate surveys in their local area, in parks, gardens and more rural areas. They’re forming regional hubs to recruit volunteers who put out cameras, and then collect them after 30 days. The cameras capture images of hedgehogs and other animals. Using innovative methods, we’re analysing the images to understand how we can better help hedgehogs.

We need your help!

The images from year 1 have been uploaded to mammalweb.org, and we need you to help us classify the animals which can be seen in them. You just need to sign up for a MammalWeb account and select the NHMP project to classify.

We have made some helpful video instructions for you to follow as you go.

For more information about the project, please enter your details below.

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