Hedgehog is Cork's most spotted species

The chances are you haven’t seen a hedgehog in a while as they hibernate at this time of year

Even if you are an astute wildlife observer, chances are you haven’t seen a hedgehog in a while as the species goes into hibernation

When you see so many hedgehogs killed by road traffic, you might wonder how they survive at all. Surveys by the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC), however, show the hedgehog to be the second-most recorded species here in the first half of 2020, behind the orange-tip butterfly.

In Co Cork, the hedgehog was in the number one spot, followed by the orange-tip and buzzard, in that order. Even if you are an astute wildlife observer, chances are you haven’t seen a hedgehog in a while as the species goes into hibernation, starting in October and lasting until April or May.