'Spike' in efforts to help hedgehogs roam free

Noah at the Hogsprickle Wildlife Carers rehabilitation unit in Co Clare. 'Hedgehogs need to be able to travel for miles at night looking for food,' said Bev Truss, who runs the unit.

The covid pandemic not only led us to look out for our neighbours but has also fostered a determination to support our feathered, spiky, and furry friends in nature.

Dublin City Council's biodiversity officer Lorraine Bull said, post-pandemic, the public has been searching out new ways to help with the movement of animals, including the building of hedgehog corridors and highway crossings as well as badger access points.

“There is a big drive now to open up hedgehog corridors and all that really means is, people are putting holes in their fences, opening up corridors, and allowing animals to roam from garden to garden," said Ms Bull.

“Community groups are working more with the councils now too to create a space for animals to move. It is also something that has been discussed in the building and planning of housing estates."

She said welfare supports are now spilling more and more into mainstream construction.

Noah the hedgehog at The Hogsprickle sanctuary in East Clare. Picture: Brian Arthur

“It is something that can be done at planning stage. Fencing companies are putting holes in fences now too to help with the initiative."

Studies in Britain and Europe show hedgehog numbers are in decline. While there is no official number for hedgehogs in Ireland, biodiversity studies like the national hedgehog surveys are underway to track statistics here. It is estimated there are around 1m hedgehogs here.

One company, Irish Fencing Services, based in Dublin and Cork, is providing hedgehog doors in all their fences and railings as well as encouraging members of the public to request them when purchasing a new fence from any suppliers nationwide.

“The basic principle is that hedgehogs have their walking routes, and their routes are being blocked by solid fences and hedgehogs cannot go where they need to go," said owner Terry Hobdell.

“We saw the idea in the UK and decided to get it going here. 

We are asking all fencing companies to do it, we are encouraging the public to do it, and kids will love to have a hedgehog door in their fence.

“It is not overly complex. We don’t have a patent on holes in fences, we just want to get the campaign going.

“We would also like to see builders developing housing estates to think about it too."

Beverly Truss with Pickle at The Hogsprickle hedgehog sanctuary in East Clare. Picture: Brian Arthur

The move has been backed by wildlife rescuers around the country.

Bev Truss, a veterinary nurse who runs the Hogsprickle Wildlife Carers rehabilitation unit outside Ennis, Co Clare, said: "We heard about it before and then an Irish company got the campaign going here.

“Hedgehogs need to be able to travel for miles at night looking for food, they are preparing to hibernate now, but they do need to travel, and they go from garden to garden."

Another veterinary nurse, Yvonne McCann, who runs Hedgehog Rescue Dublin, has also supported the movement.

Writing on her Facebook page she said the idea was “great news for hedgehogs”.