Wiltshire Archaeological & Natural History Magazine, vol. 95 (2002), pp. 63-68 



Hedgehogs in Wiltshire, a Survey, 1999-2000 



by Humphrey Kay 



A decline in the number of hedgehogs in the county is indicated by 142 replies received from naturalists, 

 gardeners and garden clubs. The results are detailed and suggest that although deaths from road traffic 

 accidents have dropped, deaths from predation by badgers have increased. Details of seven documented 

 cases of hedgehog/ badger interactions are given. 



There is good evidence that the population of 

 hedgehogs in England has declined and may be 

 declining further, (Tapper, 1992, Morris, 1994). 

 Morris gives a number of possible causes for the 

 decline but one which calls for investigation is the 

 increase of badgers (Wilson et al, 1997) which are 

 known to drive away and/or predate on hedgehogs 

 to the point of elimination from an area (Doncaster, 

 1992) In an effort to discover the situation in 

 Wiltshire, a survey was made in 1999 and 2000, 

 with additional recollections requested from 

 observers of previous years. 



The survey, which ran from March 1999 to 

 December 2000, has three sources of data. 



1. A questionnaire sent to known observant 

 naturalists, wardens of nature reserves, etc.. 



2. A similar request to gardening clubs and 

 societies throughout the county. 



3. Requests to keen individual gardeners, 

 selected so as to represent as wide an area as possible 

 within the county. 



The information sought was of hedgehogs killed 

 on the roads, live hedgehogs whether regularly or 

 occasionally seen (and field signs), past history of 

 hedgehogs in or around gardens; presence and 

 history of badgers in the area and any evidence of 

 direct badger-hedgehog interaction. 



Of the replies received, 35 were from naturalists, 

 81 from individual gardeners and 26 from garden 

 clubs. These last contained various amounts of 

 detail but 1 1 had conducted surveys or votes at a 



meeting - up to 70 at Devizes - and represented in 

 all over 300 members. 



The location of gardeners and garden clubs is 

 shown in Map 1 indicating the geographical 



Negative gardener report 

 Positive gardener report , 



Negative garden club report ^ 

 Positive garden club report , j 



Map 1. Hedgehog records from gardeners and garden 

 clubs, 1999-2000 



New Mill, Milton Lilbourne, Pewsey SN9 5LD 



