HARTPURY_UNIVERSITY_PROSPECTUS_2022

55

Love research that makes a difference

reserves to survive with limited food, and find enough building materials (such as leaves) to

We're adding to the evidence base that underpins our understanding of animals. From rewilding projects to exploring canine health and turning the tide on hedgehog decline, our staff and students are providing solutions to real issues and changing the waywe interact with animals. Saving our hedgehogs Did you know that hedgehogs are in decline? Once a common sight in the countryside, there’s fewer than one million left in the UK. However, our expert research team has uncovered fresh evidence that could be the beginning of a happier, hedgehog-filled future. The findings show that hedgehogs in rural environments are more at risk immediately before and after hibernation, which typically lasts from November to April, than during hibernation itself. In the build up to the winter months, hedgehogs must accumulate the fat

keep warm in their nest. What does this mean?

Ensuring hedgehogs have access to plenty of foraging and nesting areas is critical for building a substantial nest, and relocating safely if they’re disturbed or there are changes in the environment.

Funded by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. Carried out with collaborators from the University of Reading, Keele University, and NottinghamTrent University.

Do what you love | www.hartpury.ac.uk/research