Hedgehogs

Scientists have described 1 million species of insects so far, and estimate that at least 4 million species worldwide are still unrecorded. For people living in areas with ample wilderness and a plethora of biting mosquitoes that carry malaria and other diseases, a decline in insect populations might seem like an outlandish concern. But in areas with intensive industrialized agriculture, the drop in insect populations is worrying.

Die Fledermäuse erwachen momentan aus dem Winterschlaf. Nachts gehen sie auf die Jagd, um ihre leeren Reserven aufzutanken. Doch sie finden kaum noch Futter. „Seit einiger Zeit beobachten wir einen alarmierenden Rückgang von Insekten“, sagt Karl Kugelschafter, Fledermausexperte vom Naturschutzbund (Nabu). Für die Fledermäuse geht es ums Überleben, denn sie ernähren sich fast ausschließlich von Insekten und müssen pro Tag ungefähr ein Drittel ihres Körpergewichtes an Nahrung zu sich nehmen. Hochgerechnet braucht ein einzelnes Tier also ungefähr ein Kilogramm Insekten in einem Sommer.

In weiten Teilen Deutschlands ist die Insektenpopulation um bis zu 80 Prozent eingebrochen. Vor allem Wildbienen, Hummeln, Schwedfliegen sowie den Tag- und Nachtfaltern drohe das schleichende Aus, mahnt Thomas Mitschke. „Allein die Rote Liste der Bienen umfasst 300 Arten.“ Der Vorsitzende des Naturschutzbundes Lüneburg ist Hummel-, Wespen- und Hornissenbeauftragter für Stadt und Landkreis Lüneburg.

Exeter University biologist Fiona Mathews is leading a national drive to count the hedgehog to try to find out how many survive and why their numbers have dropped so dramatically. Dr Mathews, Associate Professor in Mammalian Biology, who rescued a blind hedgehog she has named Prickole Kidman, urged members of the public to take part in a country-wide count of hedgehogs they have spotted this year, both dead and alive. Matthews, Chairman of the Mammals Society, is appealing for help with a new survey to shed light on where they are most scarce, and where they could be thriving.

In my last piece I covered the ‘State of Nature’ report, including its findings that much of our wildlife is declining at an alarming rate. To illustrate this here is a closer look at a once familiar animal – the hedgehog. I often used to see hedgehogs, both here in West Bromwich, and elsewhere, but now I can’t remember when I last saw one. In 2011 the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) estimated that the population had reduced by a quarter since the year 2000.

HS2 – the proposed high speed rail link between London and the north of England – want to use the Zoo’s car park as a lorry park for heavy goods vehicles and construction trucks for up to 20 years, despite conservation surveys identifying the land as a key habitat for the declining British species.

High brown Fritillary butterfly - Once widespread it is now reduced to around 50 sites and threatened with extinction; Great Crested Newt – a sharp decline with only around 75,000 existing across the country; Hen Harrier – One of Britain’s most threatened birds of prey with only around 600 breeding pairs left; Hazel Dormouse – declined by one third in recent years and it is not extinct in 17 counties; Barbastelle Bat – widespread decline and fewer than 5,000 remaining; Ringed plover – only 5,600 breeding pairs remaining; Water vole – populations have dropped by 90 per cent in recent years;

In Deutschland gibt es immer weniger Bienen, immer weniger Hummeln, immer weniger Schmetterlinge. Überhaupt gibt es immer weniger Insekten! Das haben Forscher aus Krefeld herausgefunden. Das ist eine Stadt im Bundesland Nordrhein-Westfalen. 25 Jahre lang haben die Forscher an bestimmten Orten Insekten gesammelt, ihre Art bestimmt und die Tiere gewogen. Das Ergebnis der Forscher: In dieser Zeit stellten sie einen Rückgang an Insekten von bis zu 80 Prozent fest. Gesammelt haben die Forscher vor allem in Nordrhein-Westfalen.

Much of England’s best-loved wildlife remains in serious decline, according to the latest official assessment from the government. Birds and butterflies on farmland have continued their long term downward trend and 75% of over 200 “priority” species across the country – including hedgehogs, dormice and moths – are falling in number. The Natural Environment Indicators for England also showed that water quality has fallen in the last five years, with just one in five rivers and lakes having high or good status, and the amount of time given by conservation volunteers has also fallen.