Islanders urged to "check before you chop" after influx of hedgehog casualties

Friday 24 May 2024

Islanders are being urged to “check before you chop” after a hedgehog was put down this week from severe injuries caused by a strimmer.

Dru Burdon of the Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group said the increase in recent casualties was “dreadful” to see – and when called by Express yesterday, she was in the midst of attempting to save the life of a second injured hedgehog in 12 hours.

It is not unusual to see an influx of maimed or injured hedgehogs to the group's Waterworks Valley headquarters in the run up to the branchage, where landowners and occupiers start cutting back vegetation overhanging roads and paths.

But Ms Burdon called on islanders to take some time to check in the long grass and under hedges for sleeping hedgehogs and other wildlife before cutting, strimming or mowing.

She said: "We had to take him to the vets to be put to sleep, as he had a deep cut on his head and his nose was so badly cut that it was hanging off.

"Just a moment to check for wildlife before the person started to cut could have saved this hedgehog's life."

Pictured: The injured hedgehog had to be taken to the vets to be put to sleep.

She added: "I'm so angry, and it's dreadful, awful, to see.

"We've been banging on about this for 32 years and it makes no difference, no one takes any notice because time is money and contract gardeners have to get the job done in a certain time, so they think they have no time to check for hedgehogs before they start work.

"I know we're asking a lot, but if people are working in their own gardens I don't think it's unreasonable."

Ms Burdon stressed that Jersey's "shrinking population" of hedgehogs made it more important to look out for them.

"Check before you chop," she said. "That's all we're asking."

Any islander who finds an injured hedgehog should contact the Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group on 734340, or online.