Ecologists based at the University of Reading are conducting a project examining the possible impact of road networks on hedgehog populations. It is estimated that hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 20% in the last 20 years, although some wildlife organizations claim their demise is much more severe than that.
The Reading researchers believe that one factor contributing to this decline is the fragmentation effect of major roads on hedgehog populations, i.e. hedgehogs avoid crossing these major roads, leading to populations becoming more and more isolated from one another, which potentially makes them more vulnerable to other factors.
The ecologists are looking to obtain genetic samples from hedgehogs in a zone approximately 10 miles north and south of the M4 between Bristol and Reading. One source is the bodies of hedgehogs that have been killed on the roads. People are urged to report any sightings they have of dead hedgehogs so that the Reading team can collect the remains and take a small tissue sample for their analyses. To report any sightings, please email: hedgehogs@reading.ac.uk
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