Hedgehog auditors to unlock spiky mammals' secrets
IRELAND'S prickliest mammal is to undergo its first ever audit, in an attempt to stop its decline in rural Ireland.
The survey aims to find out how many hedgehogs are in the country as well as to identify the threat posed to them by the use of pesticides.
"It is ironic that hedgehogs are being killed by pesticides when in fact they are the best pest control we have got," said John Murphy who is involved in carrying out the survey.
"Pesticides such as slug pellets are known to kill hedgehogs, along with other species such as thrushes and frogs.
"Hopefully this survey can raise sufficient public awareness to instigate a shift in opinion and a reduction in the use of pesticides," said Mr Murphy who is Clare County Council's Biodiversity Officer.
Clare is the first county in Ireland to have a web-based Biological Records Centre.
Cuckoo
This, along with the Clare Hedgehog Survey, forms part of the Clare Local Biodiversity Action Plan - the first of its kind in the country.
The Hedgehog Survey follows less than six months after another inaugural survey was completed in the county. The Cuckoo Survey, which was also undertaken by Clare Biodiversity Group and the local County Council, found that the bird has made a comeback in the west of the country.
Produced by the Clare Heritage Office, the aim of the hedgehog survey, which is co-funded by the local authority and the Heritage Council, is to assess population numbers as well as to identify the threat posed to the species by the widespread use of pesticides.
"Members of the public will play a major role in determining the overall success of this survey," said Mr Murphy.
"We are asking the public to record any sightings of hedgehogs on a reference map that has been established on the Clare Biodiversity Group website www.clarebiodiversity.ie," he added.
"These records will help us build a comprehensive map of where populations of the mammal are concentrated."
PAT FLYNN
