Despite the best efforts of the RSPB and SNH the hedgehogs are fighting back.

From: Two Mules (TwMules_at_eeawwstrap.com)
Date: 08/09/04 

Date: Mon, 09 Aug 2004 15:27:50 +0100

The recent RSPB led slaughter of hedgehogs by it's lackey and quango
SNH is not quite going how they planned. The cull is proving very
unsuccessful and unpopular, not to mention completely unnecessary.

Why would the RSPB insist this CONservation hooliganism continues?

http://www.advocatesforanimals.org.uk/campaigns/wild/hedgehogs/uist07.html

Uist Hedgehog Rescue thanks you for your support
Summer 2004
 
Uist Hedgehog Rescue (UHR) is the coalition of animal groups working
together to rescue and relocate hedgehogs from the Uists and Benbecula
to the mainland. The rescue has been made necessary because of
Scottish Natural Heritage's (SNH) decision to kill the hedgehogs. UHR
has consistently agreed that the Uists internationally important
breeding populations of wading birds need to be protected. However, we
believe that instead of killing the hedgehogs, they should simply be
moved live to the mainland. In that way we can save both the waders
and the hedgehogs.

UHR has now rescued 175 hedgehogs, 170 of which have been safely
relocated to the mainland and released into suitable sites to live out
their lives. This is in addition to the 156 we rescued last year. UHR
has now ended its rescue for this year as females may now be pregnant
and should not be moved. UHR would like to thank the many islanders
who have been supporting our rescue effort by bringing hedgehogs to us
to relocate on the mainland.

Reward not taxable
It was of concern to UHR that rumours may have been circulated that
the £20 reward being offered to residents of the Uists and Benbecula
for each hedgehog rescued may be liable to tax. Having checked with
the Inland Revenue, we can confirm that the reward is not liable to
tax.

What is of concern to those of us working hard to rescue these
hedgehogs and relocate them to the mainland is that unfounded rumours
such as these may hamper our rescue efforts and delay the revival of
the wading bird populations on the islands.

There is, however, one tax issue which should be causing grave concern
- the vast amounts of taxpayers' money that Scottish Executive
conservation quango, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), is spending
killing these perfectly healthy wild animals. SNH should heed the
advice of the experts in this field to end this unnecessary killing
and instead work with UHR.

Hedgehog study underway
SNH has accused UHR of being cruel by moving the hedgehogs. This is
utter nonsense and a last-ditch attempt to justify its unethical
killing policy. Scientists from the People's Trust for Endangered
Species charity spent many months in discussion with SNH last year in
an attempt to develop an acceptable post-release monitoring study.
However, due to the excessive demands made by SNH, the costs of this
study rose to £160,000. Thus, as sufficient funding could not be found
and SNH was not prepared to contribute, the study has not proceeded
this year.

UHR has given 24 of this year's rescued hedgehogs to Professor Stephen
Harris at the School of Biological Sciences at Bristol University who
is undertaking a scientific study to monitor their post-release
survival. Small radio transmitters will be attached to their spines so
that they can be tracked by researchers. An equal number of Bristol
hedgehogs will also be tracked in order to compare the survival rates
and condition of the two groups.

World hedgehog experts support UHR
Hugh Warwick, an independent ecologist who visited the Uists last
spring, gave a presentation at a meeting of the European Hedgehog
Research Group held in April 2004. The majority of those present
signed the following statement:

"We recognise the need for the Uist wader population to be protected.
And to that end, we accept the need for hedgehogs to be removed from
the islands. However, the undersigned attendees of the European
Hedgehog Research Group conference, including many of the world's
leading experts in hedgehog ecology and behaviour, call for Scottish
Natural Heritage to halt the cull of hedgehogs on the Uists. And, in
view of the published scientific studies that indicate that hedgehog
translocation can be undertaken successfully, we call on SNH to
support the efforts of those wishing to translocate the hedgehogs in a
careful and well-monitored manner."
Mr Warwick stressed:

"This statement is not simply a sentimental response to the events
currently unfolding in the Hebrides, but is based on our collective
expertise and a genuine concern that relevant scientific evidence may
be being ignored."
Dr Valerie Keeble, Chief Executive of People's Trust for Endangered
Species, said:

"We feel that it is very encouraging that members of the wider
scientific community agree with our opinion that the relocation of the
Uist hedgehogs may be a viable alternative to a mass cull."
The future for the Uist hedgehogs
As we have always made clear, UHR supports the removal of the
hedgehogs from the Uists. Our efforts this year and last will no doubt
have had a positive impact on the breeding successes of the Uist
waders.

We are hopeful that SNH will admit to its folly and work with UHR to
relocate the hedgehogs to the mainland next year instead of killing
them.

Once again, UHR would like to say thank you to the people of the Uists
and Benbecula for helping us to help the waders and the hedgehogs.

UHR consists of Advocates for Animals, the British Hedgehog
Preservation Society, Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue Trust and
International Animal Rescue. For more information call 0131 225 6039
or e-mail info@advocatesforanimals.org.

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