The Machair - Hedgehogs

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The James Hutton Institute

This page is no longer updated. The Macaulay Land Use Research Institute joined forces with SCRI on 1 April 2011 to create The James Hutton Institute.

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HEDGEHOGS

CONFLICTS AND SOLUTIONS > CONSERVATION > WILDLIFE

Hedgehogs are not native to the Uists but were introduced in the 1970s to South Uist in an attempt at 'biological control' of garden pests. There are now over 4,000 adult hedgehogs in the Uists.

There is general agreement that the hedgehogs do need removing. The issue revolves around the methods proposed.

In 2003, 66 animals were culled in North Uist with similar numbers being captured and translocated.

Hedgehogs are blamed for the decline in breeding birds on the Western Isles (temporary picture)

Related topics: Conservation designations