Public invited to join the Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count

Hedgehog Conservation Ireland and researchers at University of Galway and University of Oxford are calling on people to take part in the inaugural Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count, aimed at helping scientists better understand the status of Ireland’s hedgehog population.

From Monday June 8th, members of the public are encouraged to keep an eye out for hedgehogs in their gardens, parks, farms, estates, campuses and public green spaces, and report sightings online.

The nationwide citizen science campaign aims to build a clearer picture of where hedgehogs are still thriving across Ireland and where populations may be under pressure.

Participants can submit sightings here.

Hedgehogs play a role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by naturally helping to control populations of insects, slugs and other garden pests, making them an important part of Ireland’s biodiversity.

The initiative is part of a growing national effort to better understand and protect Ireland’s hedgehogs, whose numbers are believed to be declining due to habitat loss, road traffic, pesticides and changes in land use. Across Europe, hedgehogs are now classified as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List.

Recent studies suggest hedgehog populations have declined significantly in parts of western Europe over recent decades, making public reporting initiatives increasingly important for conservation research.

Hedgehog Conservation Ireland is led by Elaine O’Riordan, University of Galway’s School of Natural Sciences and Ryan Institute, Dr Amy Haigh, Veon Ecology, Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Natural History Museum Denmark and WildCRU, University of Oxford, and Alan Bell, Eco Restoration Trust.

Elaine O’Riordan, researcher at University of Galway and lead researcher for the Irish Hedgehog Survey, said: “Public participation is vital because hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, and monitoring them on a large scale would be impossible without community support. People across Ireland can make a real contribution to hedgehog conservation simply by reporting sightings. Every record helps us understand where hedgehogs are living and how populations are changing over time. Gardens and green spaces are becoming increasingly important refuges for wildlife, and we’re encouraging everyone to keep an eye out during the count week.”

The Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count is open to everyone, whether they live in a city, town, village, or rural area. Participants are encouraged to look for hedgehogs at dusk or after dark, when the animals are most active.

Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen, also known as Dr Hedgehog, hedgehog researcher at WildCRU, University of Oxford and member of Hedgehog Conservation Ireland, said: “If you do not have a garden yourself, you can look for hedgehogs in the local park, or travel to the forest or the countryside. And if you are young and cannot stay up late when the hedgehogs become active, you can also report road-killed hedgehogs - every record counts and helps us build a better understanding of where hedgehogs are found.

“It is very important that we do not disturb the hedgehogs during the count. We do not want to risk any nests being disrupted or stressing the animals. Please wait for hedgehogs to appear naturally on the lawn when they become active at dusk and admire them from a distance.”

Organisers hope the event will not only gather valuable scientific data but also encourage more people to connect with local wildlife and make their gardens and communities more hedgehog-friendly by creating safe spaces for nature to thrive.

The Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count is expected to become an annual event.

For more information about the Great Big All-Ireland Hedgehog Count and how to take part, click here.