Spike in number of hedgehogs brought into GSPCA since 2020
A SPIKE in hedgehog populations since 2020 has kept the GSPCA busy, as the number of annual injured spiny mammal visits has quintupled over the last two years.
The shelter used to take in about 100 a year pre-Covid but has recently been seeing numbers reach 500, with around 300 already being cared for in 2023.
GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said this was down to a number of factors.
‘Firstly, everyone was at home so there were barely any cars on the roads, which meant hedgehogs weren’t getting hit but it was also a wonderful period of animal care,’ he said.
‘Because everyone was staying in the same place they took care of their surroundings and looked after the wildlife around them.’
While the sudden increase is a good sign for Guernsey’s ecosystem, it has meant that GSPCA volunteers have had their work cut out with a consistent flow of injured hogs coming through the doors every day.
Mr Byrne said this issue becomes more apparent in the summer.
‘There are a lot more crashes because the longer days increase activity with the hedgehogs in their peak breeding period, which also means there are a lot more young and vulnerable hedgehogs around,’ he said.
‘The weather can also be a double-edged sword because in dry periods there will be no water or insects to feed on, but too much rain like we’ve been having means they struggle to get out and find food.
‘There needs to be a balance.’
Islanders are now being encouraged to help ease the pressure on the shelter by implementing a few simple steps in their gardens.
‘Most important is to make sure there are shallow bowls of fresh water available,’ said Mr Byrne.
‘Leaving out food would also be great, the best kind is fresh moist meat like cat food.’
n More information on our hedgehogs is available at gspca.org.gg/search/node/hedgehogs.
