Devastating floods and extreme rainfall have wreaked havoc on the South West's wildlife, particularly the vulnerable European hedgehog. The Devon rescue group Prickles in a Pickle has reported a surge in hedgehogs washed from their nests in Plymouth, Kingsbridge, Ivybridge, and Dartmouth. Co-founder Judy Thompson describes this winter as particularly harsh for these animals, as they've been flooded out of their homes and face scarce food sources. Underweight hedgehogs, already struggling to survive the winter, are now facing a double blow. Some have arrived at the rescue centre dehydrated, feeling like 'little empty bags of prickles and very, very slim'. The main issue lies in the inability to safely drink flood water, which can sweep them away, and the loss of their primary food source, worms, which have been flattened or dried out by the rain. The increasing development on and near floodplains is further exacerbating the problem by cutting off wildlife refuges. Thompson emphasizes the need for better natural management of floodplains and drainage to protect these fragile ecosystems. 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 in the UK have plummeted below one million, a 30% decrease in over a decade, according to the Devon Wildlife Trust. Thompson urges, 'We can't afford to lose them as fast as we are... I for one don't want to see them disappear.' The situation highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect these beloved creatures and their habitats.
