HomeDomestic NewsDanish citizens participate in national hedgehog count, revealing declining population trend.

Danish citizens participate in national hedgehog count, revealing declining population trend.

Over the past weekend, 10,263 Danes took to nature to register hedgehogs as part of the national hedgehog count. A total of 16,627 hedgehogs were recorded, according to Line Gylling, head of Danish nature at WWF World Wildlife Fund (WWF Verdensnaturfonden). Gylling noted that this year’s count received strong support and covered a broader geographical area compared to previous years. This was only the second time the hedgehog count was held, organized by the WWF in collaboration with hedgehog researcher Sophie Lund Rasmussen. In the previous year, approximately 15,000 participating citizens recorded around 25,000 hedgehogs.

The decrease in reported hedgehogs this year may be related to fewer participants. However, Gylling warns against drawing hasty conclusions based on the current data. “It’s too early to draw conclusions after just two counts. Therefore, we are planning another count next summer,” she stated.

There is an assumption that the hedgehog population in Denmark is in decline, similar to what is observed across Europe, where the species is also under pressure. According to Gylling, the decline is caused by a shortage of natural habitats. Sophie Lund Rasmussen further indicated that hedgehogs also face risks from garden tools such as strimmers, attacks from dogs, and accidents involving brush piles ending up in wood chippers, as their natural environments continue to shrink.

Of the registered hedgehogs this year, 954 were reported dead after being struck by traffic. The hedgehog counting project receives support from the Nordea Foundation and is scheduled to be repeated for the third time on August 9, 2025.

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