Hedgehogs are generally short-lived, living an average of about two years, although some have been documented to live as long as twelve years, and maximum lifespans can reach sixteen years. They usually reach breeding age at about twelve months and usually give birth to litters of three to five cubs once a year. Rasmussen indicated that “this means that many hedgehogs reproduce only once, or maybe twice if they’re lucky, before they die”, which is enough “to maintain population levels”. With increasing threats reducing their lifespan and reproductive success, populations struggle to renew themselves.

Despite the grim statistics, experts believe there is still an opportunity to halt the decline of the Western European hedgehog. Greater efforts and vigilance are required for their survival. Conservationists urge the public to engage in wildlife-friendly gardening practices to create safer habitats for hedgehogs. This includes refraining from using pesticides, allowing gardens to grow wild to attract insects and providing shelter through log piles or specialist hedgehog houses.

An important initiative is the creation of “hedgehog highways”. Rasmussen invites homeowners to build them by making small gaps in their fences to allow hedgehogs to move freely between gardens during their nocturnal foraging. “The best thing you can do is let your garden grow wild to attract everything a hedgehog needs to feed: insects, earthworms, snails and slugs,” she said. Homeowners are also encouraged to place a small supply of water and food scraps in the hedgehog’s path.

Dr Abi Gazzard, Program Officer of IUCN’s Small Mammal Specialist Group, stressed that “regional and national action is essential to support hedgehog populations”, highlighting initiatives such as the UK’s ‘Hedgehog Street’ and ‘Danmarks Pindsvin ” in Denmark. Conservationists have warned that trend monitoring and conservation efforts are largely lacking in the hedgehog’s range.

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The European hedgehog occupies a special place in public affection. In 2013, it was voted Britain’s most iconic mammal in a poll by the BBC, and in 2016 it topped a similar poll by the Royal Society of Biology. Its cultural significance underscores the urgency of its preservation.

Rasmussen warned that the European hedgehog “is very close to being ‘vulnerable’ and is likely to fall into that category the next time we assess it”. She added: “It’s not like the world will come crashing down tomorrow if hedgehogs disappear, but can we really accept that we’re causing them to disappear?” She also asked a critical question: “If we let it get so bad with one species we really care about, what happens to all the species we don’t care about?”

The IUCN Red List, established in 1964, now includes 166,061 plant and animal species, tracking their global conservation status. The scale ranges from Least Concern to Extinct, indicating the likelihood that a species will become extinct in the near future. The classification of the European hedgehog as “Near Threatened” serves as a stark reminder of the impact that human activities have on wildlife and the responsibility to take action.

In the absence of reliable figures on the total number of hedgehogs left, conservationists stress the importance of immediate efforts to protect these creatures. Through collective action and increased awareness, there is hope to reverse the decline and ensure that the hedgehog remains a valued part of Europe’s natural heritage. Experts believe there is still a chance to halt the decline of the hedgehog population in Western Europe, but greater efforts and vigilance are needed for their survival.

Sources: Der Standard, La Croix, France 24, Nature, Süddeutsche Zeitung, El Tiempo, BBC.

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq