European hedgehog populations have plummeted by 30 per cent over the last decade, leading to them being declared “near threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) red list. However, a glimmer of hope has emerged.
A Simple Yet High-Tech Solution
Researchers have discovered that ultrasound can be effectively used to warn hedgehogs and move them away from danger zones, particularly roads where they are frequently hit by cars. When exposed to specific high-frequency sounds, the hedgehogs immediately retreat to safety rather than adopting their usual, often fatal, defense mechanism of curling up into a ball.
This low-cost, non-invasive technology could soon be integrated into roadside posts or even directly into vehicles, offering a practical way to significantly reduce hedgehog mortality and help the species bounce back across Europe.
