Good news for the Uists hedgehogs!

[Rainbowmum]

My friend Hugh Warwick who did the Uists study sent me the following links

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Highlands and Islands | Proposal could halt hedgehog cull

Scotsman.com News - Scotland - Hedgehog cull could end within days


Louise xx

[Blackdog]

That's great news.
At the risk of starting a war of words, why was is thought neccessary in the first place?
I know they were taking eggs, but is that not what evolution is all about.
First rule of Natural History - Don't interfere.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Blackdog

That's great news.
At the risk of starting a war of words, why was is thought neccessary in the first place?
I know they were taking eggs, but is that not what evolution is all about.
First rule of Natural History - Don't interfere.

I don't think there's anywhere left in Britain where we haven't interfered is there?

Sadly those islands are really really important for so many breeding sea birds and particularly waders this is because there were no predators, now the arrival of the hedgehog (introduced in 1974) there have been declines in breeding pairs of 30-60%. Do nothing and the breeding waders in particular would be likely to be lost from the island - because there's nothing to control the hedgehogs and when you consider that 25% of the entire uk breeding population of dunlin and ringed plover are on those islands I know I couldn't just sit back and watch them get wiped out by a widespread british mammal.......

but if they are certain that hedgehogs won't suffer too much by being translocated then I'm all for the translocation over culling movement...

[Blackdog]

Ah, second rule applies - look it up before you shout

Sorry Gill, I didn't know the hedgies were an introduced species. Mind you, I suppose that goes back to the first rule in a way, why were they introduced in the first place?

One of my favourite locations for seabirds is Skomer, there are no rats or hedgies there and the birds flourish so I guess that proves the point.

[Gill Catton]

Originally Posted by Blackdog

Ah, second rule applies - look it up before you shout

Sorry Gill, I didn't know the hedgies were an introduced species. Mind you, I suppose that goes back to the first rule in a way, why were they introduced in the first place?

One of my favourite locations for seabirds is Skomer, there are no rats or hedgies there and the birds flourish so I guess that proves the point.

No worries

I'm not sure why they were introduced but I can imagne the converstaion (please insert your own Scottish accent)......
"ooh I'm having awful trouble with these slugs eating my cabbages"

" what you need is a couple of hedgehogs that'd sort your problem"

Possibly the rest is history!!

[Tormentil]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

........ the rest is history!!

As will be the birds, if the hedgehogs are not controlled.

[C C]

I think there was just four hedgehogs originally released, not sure for what reason. They were released near Daliburgh in 1974.

Its good news by the way, hedgehogs are having a hard time of it.

[Gaina]

That's great news. Why don't they ship a few dozen to me? I've got half an acre's worth of slugs that need munching!

[nicola]

Well Im just pleased that they are now being given a chance, always the same, man interferes, then man kills.. at least with relocating the hogs they have more of a chance.