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Bristol University scientists and RSPCA uncover link between rodenticides and hedgehog population decline
New scientific research, published in the scientific journal Environmental Pollution, has found that rat and mouse poison may be having an effect on the welfare of hedgehogs.
The new study, which has been aided by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) shows that anticoagulants - used to kill rodents by preventing the blood from clotting - have shown up in significant levels in the hedgehogs studied. This could have had an impact on their survival, breeding success or mobility.
RSPCA's wildlife scientific officer, Sophie Adwick, said: "All four of the RSPCA's UK wildlife centres, along with other establishments, supplied scientists at the University of Bristol with the carcasses of 120 hedgehogs that had died or were euthanased because of illness or injury.
"The findings of this study are a great surprise and may have a significant impact on how these poisons are used in the future..."
Dr Claire Dowding, from the University of Bristol, who carried out the research, said: "The number of hedgehogs affected is quite worrying. It's difficult to tell exactly how these animals are exposed to the chemicals.
"They may be eating them directly, scavenging on dead rodents that have been killed by the poison or eating their favourite diet of slugs and snails that have fed on the poison bait. Slugs and snails are not affected by anticoagulants because their blood is different, but they will retain poisonous residues."
Out of the 120 hedgehogs sampled, 80 of them had been exposed to these poisons, Claire said. She pointed out that this high figure was of great concern and might be one of the reasons why the British hedgehog population is declining.
Further information and podcasts on RSPCA Wildlife Centres.
Published: 26 Aug 2009
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Tags: Equine, Exotic, Farm animal, News, Small animal, Universities
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