Project to remove 'invasive' hedgehogs from Western Isles secures funding

A project that is working towards removing hedgehogs from part of the Western Isles has secured almost £100,000 in funding.

The Saving Uist Nature project, a partnership between RSPB Scotland, NatureScot and Scottish SPCA, aims to remove hedgehogs from Benbecula through humane live capture and translocation.

The species, which is not native to the area, are blamed for eating the eggs of ground-nesting birds, causing “severe declines” of several species, including dunlin, common ringed plover, common redshank, common snipe, northern lapwing, oystercatcher and little tern.

Hedgehogs were originally introduced to Uist over 50 years ago to control garden pests.

The partnership is developing a “world-first” for invasive species removal, using live capture and translocation at scale. It plans to relocate the hedgehogs to the Scottish Mainland.

The project’s initial phase will test methods and remove hedgehogs from Benbecula before scaling up to South Uist.

Kenna Chisholm, North Highland and the Hebrides area manager, RSPB Scotland, said the project is responding to a “unique” situation.

“Taking action is critical to protect remarkable wildlife here in Uist and ensure the best possible outcomes for the hedgehogs which will be relocated and the mainland population,” he said.

The project has been awarded £97,840 from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, managed by NatureScot.

The funding will enable the project to develop the Hedgehog Release Strategy over the next 12 months.

Kenna Chisholm added that the action is “vital” in protecting native wildlife and that the funding boost will help the team respond to the urgent conservation needs of hedgehogs and birds alike.

Iain Macleod, NatureScot operations manager for West Scotland, said the evidence is clear that the introduction of hedgehogs has been “extremely damaging” for native birds and other wildlife on Uist.

“Tackling the impacts of invasive non-native species is a key priority of Scotland’s new biodiversity strategy and this funding will allow Saving Uist Nature to step up its vital work to provide the help that ground-nesting birds and other native wildlife in Uist desperately need,” he said.

He added: “The next stage will focus on how we can secure these benefits for native wildlife while ensuring that no harm comes to the hedgehogs that are moved or the mainland population they will join.”

Hedgehog and animal welfare experts will input into the strategy which will define how and where Uist hedgehogs will be released on the Scottish Mainland.

Scottish SPCA Wildlife Operations lead Sean Meechan said: “As a non-native invasive species to Uist, hedgehogs have a detrimental impact on the important breeding populations of ground-nesting birds on the island.

“This project provides a unique opportunity to reduce that impact while also working to preserve populations of hedgehogs as a threatened species.

He added: “The funding for this project is essential to allow the Saving Uist Nature project to carry out important conservation work and improve the welfare of native populations by the removal of invasive species.

“It also ensures the provision of a robust relocation plan through a release strategy that ensures the best welfare possible for the hedgehogs and considers the potential impact of all animals, including those existing populations within the mainland and potential release sites.”