Devastating floods and extreme rainfall have wreaked havoc on the South West's wildlife, particularly the vulnerable European hedgehog. The Devon-based rescue group, Prickles in a Pickle, has seen a surge in reports of hedgehogs washed from their nests in areas like Plymouth, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge, and Dartmouth. Co-founder Judy Thompson describes this winter as a 'hard-hitting' season for these animals, as they've been flooded out of their homes and struggle to find scarce food. Dehydrated hedgehogs arriving at the rescue center are often 'little empty bags of prickles and very, very slim.' The main food source for hedgehogs, worms, has been flattened or dried out by the rain, and they're unable to safely drink floodwater, which could sweep them away.
The increasing development on and near floodplains is also cutting off wildlife refuges, leaving animals with nowhere to go. Thompson emphasizes the need for more natural management of floodplains and drainage. The European hedgehog is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is classified as 'vulnerable to extinction' on the IUCN Red List for British Mammals. Their numbers have fallen below one million in the UK, a 30% decline in over a decade, according to the Devon Wildlife Trust. Thompson warns, 'We can't afford to lose them as fast as we are... I for one don't want to see them disappear.'
This situation raises important questions about the impact of human development on wildlife and the need for better conservation efforts. What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with the need for more natural management of floodplains and drainage? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
