Richard Collins: Citizen science survey on hedgehogs

Numbers of hedgehogs are falling across Europe and this project examines the rate of decline and tries to discover the causes

Hedgehog numbers across Europe are falling. A citizen science survey is trying to calculate the scale of the problem and examine causes. Picture: Sandor Ujvari/MTI via AP

The fox has many tricks. The hedgehog has but one. But that is the best of all — Ralph Waldo Emerson.

A Danish hedgehog was 16 years old when it died. Another reached 13. Prior to these, the maximum hog lifespan recorded in Europe was nine years. The new records were made during a citizen science survey led by Sophie Lund Rasmussen known, according to ScienceDaily, as ‘Dr Hedgehog’.