Uist Hedgehog Rescue

Uist Hedgehog Rescue (UHR) is made up (alphabetically) of Advocates for Animals, British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust and International Animal Rescue. Together we have organised a rescue in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 when the Uist Wader Project (UWP) was killing hedgehogs. UWP is made up (alphabetically) of RSPB Scotland, the Scottish Executive, and Scottish Natural Heritage. During the rescues we have saved over 750 hedgehogs from the clutches of the killers and relocated them safely to the mainland where they have been released into the wild. We have already had reports of relocated Uist hedgehogs being spotted near their release sites with young the following year.

Totals updated 31st May 2007

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 TOTALS

UHR 150 221 242 143 241 997

(rescued)

UWP 66 263 181 148 0 658

(killed)

UWP continue to insist that it is kinder to kill the animals than to relocate them. Hugh Warwick, a BHPS trustee, addressed this argument in a study undertaken by BHPS and reported his findings in a BHPS newsletter. He wrote:

“What happens to hedgehogs when they are rescued from the Uists? If we are to believe Scottish Natural Heritage, the people responsible for culling the hedgehogs in an attempt to protect ground-nesting birds, they all die ‘slow and lingering deaths’.

We have always felt that this was untrue. Nothing in the wide experience of BHPS members and affiliated scientists has suggested that this might happen. But repetition by SNH has given the statement some credibility.

So the BHPS has undertaken a study to look at the fate of the translocated animals. Earlier this year 20 female hedgehogs, rescued from the Uists, were collected from the Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust. After a thorough health check and radio-transmitters being attached, they were released in Eglinton Country Park, North Ayrshire, where they were monitored every day for a month. This was plenty of time for the animals to show signs of suffering and starvation.

And the results? They behaved just like normal hedgehogs. While some died, most survived and either maintained or put on weight, the best measure of a successful rehabilitation. Of those that died, some suffered accidents and some were eaten, but there was no evidence of a systemic problem.

Amazingly, given that the release site was near busy roads, none of these hedgehogs were run over, despite some pretty dangerous living. One hog crossed the busy B-road at least eight times, and another crossed ten lanes of traffic at a chaotic interchange one night, to emerge in an industrial park, where she stayed for the remainder of the study.

There was nothing in this study to support the statements repeated by SNH as to the fate of Uist hedgehogs and we hope that it might go some way to helping them reconsider their position on the cull.”

How can I help Uist Hedgehog Rescue?

Write and let the people responsible for the killing know your objections

Contact SNH expressing your disgust at the unnecessary killing of healthy hedgehogs on the Uists.

Ask that the hedgehogs be relocated to the mainland instead.

Andrew Thin, Board Chairman, SNH, 12 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, EH9 2AS;

Tel: 0131 446 2202; Fax: 0131 446 2278;
E-mail: andrew.thin@snh.gov.uk

Contact the Scottish Executive and RSPB Scotland expressing your disgust at their support of the unnecessary

killing of healthy hedgehogs on the Uists. Ask that the hedgehogs be relocated to the mainland instead.

Ross Finnie MSP, Minister for the Environment and Rural Development, Scottish Executive, Rural Affairs Department, Pentland House, 47 Robb's Loan, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK, EH14 1TY;

Tel: 0131 556 8400; Fax: 0131 244 4458;
E-mail: ministerforenvironmentandruraldevelopment@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Mr Stuart Housden, Director, RSPB Scotland, Dunedin House, 25 Ravelston Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland,

UK, EH4 3TP;

Tel: 0131 311 6500; Fax: 0131 311 6569;
E-mail: stuart.housden@rspb.org.uk.

Donate to Uist Hedgehog Rescue

Donate, every penny really does help.

If you are eligible, please tick the gift aid box, as this means we can claim and extra 28p for every £1 you donate from the Inland Revenue at no extra cost to you!

Sponsor BHPS member, Pavel Stroev, ran in the Edinburgh Marathon for Uist Hedgehog Rescue in June 2006.

You can still support Pavel by sponsoring him.

There are three easy ways to sponsor Pavel:

On-line: at www.justgiving.com/hedgehogs

By post: Send a cheque or postal order, clearly marking the envelope

PAVEL STROEV SPONSORSHIP, to BHPS Hedgehog House, Dhustone, Shropshire, SY8 3PL.

By telephone: simply call 01584 890 801 and use a credit or debit card to donate,

again making sure we know your donation is to sponsor Pavel!

Become a member of BHPS.

The more members we have, the more pressure we can put on the groups responsible for the killing.

Your support also means we can afford to continue with our rescue, and keep you up to date with developments.

Annual single membership of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society is just £7.50 so if you haven’t already joined,

why not join today?

Sign the on-line petition

Take a few minutes to sign the on-line petition against the cull that has been created at

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/596636200

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Uist press release