Researchers from NUI Galway have recorded more than 5,000 hedgehog sightings across the island of Ireland, with the small mammals turning up more often in the town and city surveys.
The Irish Hedgehog Survey encourages members of the public to report hedgehog sightings online using a recording scheme with the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
According to the centre Hedgehog was the most recorded of all plant and animal species in 2021.
In total, across the 32 counties on the island, 1,977 individual recorders submitted 3043 sightings through the Citizen Science Portal.
Just over a third of surveys conducted in rural landscapes found hedgehogs while 70% of urban surveys recorded them reflecting a trend of hedgehogs declining in rural areas and making their homes in gardens – both urban and rural and in parks.
The Irish Hedgehog Survey will continue for one more season, from May to September this year, with the help of citizen scientists. Sightings can be reported via the online portal at https://www.irishhedgehogsurvey.com/
