02218nas a2200169 4500008004100000245011900041210006900160300001300229490000700242520162600249653001401875653001201889100001801901700001601919700002001935856009301955 2006 eng d00aSurvival and weight changes of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) translocated from the Hebrides to Mainland Scotland0 aSurvival and weight changes of hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus tra a89–1020 v493 a

Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) are being killed on the Uists, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, in an attempt to improve the breeding success of ground nesting birds. Translocation of hedgehogs was considered as an option, but dismissed on welfare grounds. The principal concern was that translocated animals would starve. The present study set out to test this hypothesis. Twenty hedgehogs from the Uists were released on the Scottish mainland at Eglinton Country Park, Irvine and radio tracked for a month to ascertain whether or not the animals were going to starve in their new environment. Seven of the twenty radio tracked hedgehogs showed significant weight gains, five maintained their weight, and three lost weight. Two of the hedgehogs that lost weight died during the study. There were three early deaths from predation and drowning, one from a pre-existing tumour. If these deaths and the individual that vanished on the first night are removed from the analysis the results indicate an 80{%} survival rate one month after translocation. If all early deaths by predation and drowning are attributed to the unfamiliarity of the translocated hedgehogs with the terrain, the survival rate is 67{%} one month after translocation. The data also indicate that there is an advantage for females to weigh at least 550 g on release. Although conclusions should be drawn with care due to the limited sample size, study period and research approach our study suggests that concerns over the welfare of translocated hedgehogs are not well-founded, thus questioning the principal objection to such an undertaking.

10aHedgehogs10aMammals1 aWarwick, Hugh1 aMorris, Pat1 aWalker, Douglas uhttp://www.urchin.info/wp/wp-content/uploads/urchin/2012/04/Lutra_49_2_Warwick_et_al.pdf02064nas a2200169 4500008004100000245015000041210006900191300001400260490000700274520139900281653001401680653001201694100001801706700001701724700001901741856013401760 2004 eng d00aLong-term population changes among breeding shorebirds in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland, in relation to introduced hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)0 aLongterm population changes among breeding shorebirds in the Out a151–1660 v173 a

In 1974, hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) were introduced to the island of South Uist, which forms part of an area holding one of the largest concentrations of breeding shorebirds in Western Europe. By the 1990s these mammals had spread widely and become major predators of shorebird eggs. Breeding shorebirds were surveyed in 1983, when hedgehogs were confined to a small part of South Uist. They were surveyed again in 2000 by when hedgehogs had occupied all of the southern part (South Uist and Benbecula) of the 250 km2 of lowland shorebird nesting habitat for at least 10 years but had not yet colonised large parts of North Uist and adjacent small islands. Between surveys the overall numbers of shorebirds in the hedgehog-free northern zone increased by 9{%} but in the southern zone, where hedgehogs were present, numbers decreased by 39{%}. Population changes differed among species, but for all species the population in the hedgehog-free northern zone outperformed that in the southern zone. The most marked differences occurred in northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and common redshank (Tringa totanus), which both showed large declines in the southern zone and moderate to large increases in the northern zone. The north–south differences in population change could not be explained in terms of habitat change and were probably largely driven by hedgehog predation.

10aHedgehogs10aMammals1 aJackson, D, B1 aFuller, R, J1 aCampbell, S, T uhttps://hebfauna.myspecies.info/content/long-term-population-changes-among-breeding-shorebirds-outer-hebrides-scotland-relation-002221nas a2200157 4500008004100000245015100041210006900192300001200261490000700273520158700280653001401867653001201881100001801893700001601911856013601927 2000 eng d00aThe importance of the introduced hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) as a predator of the eggs of waders (Charadrii) on machair in South Uist, Scotland0 aimportance of the introduced hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus as a p a333-3480 v933 a

Populations of waders (Charadrii) on machair habitats on the island of South Uist were counted and wader nests were monitored to determine nest success and causes of failure. There were large declines in wader numbers and nest success following the spread of the introduced hedgehog throughout the island. Predation of wader eggs by hedgehogs was frequent, but susceptibility varied among wader species, being between 0 and 60{%} of the nests started. Wader species that were susceptible to hedgehog predation tended to suffer larger population declines than those that were less susceptible, with the exception that the ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula) population declined markedly even though their nests were depredated by hedgehogs infrequently. A combined analysis of mark-resighting and radio-tracking data produced an average hedgehog population density estimate of 57 adults km−2. It was estimated that wader eggs only provided 0.7–5.5 % of the energy requirements of hedgehogs, even during the season when most eggs were taken. From this it is argued that the abundance of hedgehogs and the intensity of their predation on wader eggs are unlikely to diminish in response to wader population declines. Unless some presently unidentified density-dependent mechanism compensates for low nest success, local extinctions of susceptible wader species are likely if no action is taken to reduce hedgehog predation. This appears to be the first documented case of hedgehogs threatening an internationally important bird population with regional extinction.

10aHedgehogs10aMammals1 aJackson, D, B1 aGreen, R, E uhttps://hebfauna.myspecies.info/content/importance-introduced-hedgehog-erinaceus-europaeus-predator-eggs-waders-charadrii-machair-001548nas a2200145 4500008004100000245014600041210006900187300001400256490000800270520094300278653001401221653001201235100001801247856013701265 2006 eng d00aThe breeding biology of introduced hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) on a Scottish Island: lessons for population control and bird conservation0 abreeding biology of introduced hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus on  a303–3140 v2683 a

The breeding biology of a recently (1974) introduced hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus population was studied on a large Scottish island. These hedgehogs have caused serious declines in internationally important ground-nesting shorebirds, and population control is now being attempted. Sexual behaviour commenced in late April, a few days after the main emergence from hibernation. It peaked in mid- May and again in late June/early July, and ceased by mid-August. Females were promiscuous and were estimated to have sexual encounters (although not necessarily matings) with at least five males during the main mating period. Twothirds of females attempted to breed for the first time in their second calendar year (i.e. as sub-adults), and the rest in their third calendar year (i.e. as adults). At least 96{%} (n=27) of adult females attempted to breed in the early part of the season (litters born in June). The vast majority (81{%

10aHedgehogs10aMammals1 aJackson, D, B uhttps://hebfauna.myspecies.info/content/breeding-biology-introduced-hedgehogs-erinaceus-europaeus-scottish-island-lessons-populati-0