Prickles are good cushioning for a fall and hedgehogs can swim – but it might be hard to train them in the use of snorkels.

To improve the hedgehog breathing technique perhaps some scuba diving training? [ http://www.totalexperience.com.au/assets/products_lg/Scuba-Diving-with-Sea-Dragons-Melbourne_large.JPG ]

I have to admire, and envy, the hedgehogs ability to hibernate. The envy is because our recent winters have been cold and wet and miserable. I think I could transform myself into a ball to maintain my heart temperature but one breath every few minutes might be difficult.

I makes me sad to think about it, but I have reason to believe that hedgehog deaths are not a major research concern in the scientific community. For myself, I can easily imagine that their metabolic systems are not fully operational during the hibernation period and that, in consequence, they are more than usually affected by insecticides during this period.

The website says most hedgehog deaths occur during their hibernation period while in the hedgerows? This is a bit of a curious death statistic? I am wondering if they have a statistical breakdown on the different causes of hedgehog deaths and the numbers dying from each of these causes and whether the mortality profiles are changing over time?

For the UK, I would be happy to return to 36m hedgehogs, from the present 1m. And yes, scientists have been wasting time on genetic engineering which should have been spent on investigating the Hedgehog Holocaust of the past half-century. Personally, I do not believe the story about ‘loss of habitat’ and nor do I see how anyone with a scientific background can propagate the tale. Are they seriously suggesting that the Uk ha lost 97.33% of its hedgehog habitat in 50 years? This is obvious rubbish and here is, for me, a more convincing explanation (and the video suggests that hedgehogs get better health care than patients of the UK’s National Health Service!):
http://www.harperaspreywildliferescue.co.uk/hedgehog.html
Hedgehogs are very useful visitors to any garden. They eat slugs, beetles, caterpillars, and a variety of other cute creepy crawlies, and in fact everything that makes holes in your plants will probably be the prey of these spiky fellows, making them a must have in any garden. They have declined from 30 million in the 1970’s to around 1 million now. We as humans are pretty poor at looking out for the wildlife we share our space with but this is one of the most horrific examples of our lack of caring. Pesticides kill!
Slug pellets and pesticides kill slugs and insects because they are poisonous. That poison means they suffer a very painful death, do not use them. These insects and slugs do not eat to annoy you they eat to survive. The poison ensures a painful and slow death. It can be passed onto larger animals that eat them and go right through the food chain. The poison will end up in our water table when it rains. Whilst this may sound extreme it is not. We must protect our planet and maintain the balance. We can still progress but must strive to find greener solutions to everyday issues. If we all do just that little extra everyday we will be working towards a greener planet. What have you done today to make a differnce

It would be worthwhile knowing the relationship between the amount of hedgehog habitat (woodlands and hedgerow)and the number of hedgehogs in the UK over time. And whether the woodlands are the ‘settled’ habitat of the hedgehog (for breeding) and the hedgerows the ‘travelling’ habitat of the hedgehog (allowing different hedgehog populations to meet up and/or increase their food gathering range)?

Is there an optimal number of hedgehogs? What important work do they do in the environment? And what is the critical survival number of hedgehogs for their existential value?

Habeas corpus seems like a ‘small detail’ in the operation of a civil society but is in fact a principle of the first importance. Could it be that planning for the welfare of hedgehogs is in the same category ie something which seems like a ‘small detail’ but which could have profound importance?
Re hedgerows, a high proportion of the surviving examples in the UK and other parts of north Europe date from the enclosure movement. But it is very likely (I mean that I think it is certain but can’t point to the evidence) that they were also planted round ‘open fields’ and ‘gardens’ in the preceding centuries (probably since Roman times in the UK). I have put the terms in quotation marks because their meanings have shifted.
Re ‘ancient woodlands’, the term is best used for woodland which has never been cleared and yes, it is likely that they make much better hedgehog habitat than manged woodland, but I am guessing.

Could there be a link between the culture of the gypsey’s and their tradition work in agriculture and the cultural landscape of the hedgehog?
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hedgerow_removal ]

Did the hedgehog live in the ancient woodlands and use the hedgerows and a wildlife corridor? Are the two habitat types equally important for hedgehog survival?