Aims of the project

Hedgehogs are not native to the islands of Uist and Benbecula. Since they were first introduced to the islands in 1974, they have been eating the eggs of the ground nesting wader birds. For generations these nests were previously free from predators. However, since their arrival hedgehog numbers increased to the point that they had a major impact on the breeding success of the waders.

The internationally important populations of ground nesting birds include oystercatcher, lapwing, dunlin, ringed plover, redshank and snipe. Most under threat are the dunlin, lapwing and redshank.

Who are we?

Uist Wader Research previously operated as the Uist Wader Project. It is an initiative managed by Scottish Natural Heritage with RSPB Scotland  , The Scottish Government  , Comhairle nan Eilean Siar  , Scottish SPCA  and Uist Hedgehog Rescue   as stakeholders.

How are we helping the islands waders to recover?

This phase of the project aims to develop and implement a new program of research, to improve our understanding of the wader populations, the factors affecting these and their relative importance. Low-level control effort will also take place to prevent the hedgehogs re-colonising areas already cleared.

Current research

BTO Scotland  is leading a consortium of scientists which will assess the breeding wader populations in areas where hedgehogs have been removed, and if there are other measures we can take to help the recovery of the breeding wader populations. This research expands on previous survey work and will span three field seasons, 2012 - 2014 with results available in 2015.

We will continue to look at hedgehog data collected, to inform hedgehog removal strategies and capture methods.

Existing solution

Special barrier fences were erected in strategic locations in North Uist to slow down the northward spread of hedgehogs. These hedgehog-proof fences had been previously tested  by RSPB  and were found to be effective, though on a local and short-term level.

Catching and moving hedgehogs

Hedgehogs hibernate in winter so no work occurs until the spring. In mid March our field staff resume their work, and find the hedgehogs by live cage trapping, spot-lamping and using a sniffer dog. They are then given into the care of Uist Hedgehog Rescue  and translocated to the Scottish mainland.

Our removal effort is targeted so we search areas with most hedgehogs when the females are least likely to be heavily pregnant or lactating, up until mid May and again after mid September. We also avoid searching densely populated wader nest sites until late June when most of the birds have finished nesting.

Various methods to locate and catch hedgehogs were tested in research conditions in 2002, and since then as part of actual removal work. Sniffer dogs are the most effective and after addressing legal complexities, we have employed a dog handler since 2010.

Welfare of the captured hedgehogs is of great importance to the project. In 2002, careful consideration of all published literature showed euthanasia to be the most humane option, as when translocated, the majority die within a few weeks. However in 2006 a new publication by Warwick, H. et al. (Lutra 2006 49 (2): 89-102  ) found survival rates of 67% one month after translocation. Scottish SPCA, welfare advisors to the project, defines a successful translocation as one with 60% survival. Since then all captured hedgehogs have been handed over to the care of the Uist Hedgehog Rescue    and translocated to the Scottish mainland. Payment is made for this service.