Hedgehogs are special and endangered where they came from in Great Britain, but are strangers and key predators to New Zealand’s wildlife. They eat eggs, ground-nesting chicks, lizards and invertebrates every night.
In fact, in suburban areas they’re more of a biodiversity threat than stoats, which are rarely encountered. You’re unlikely to catch a hedgehog in your backyard trap, but DOC200 traps (used in parks and reserves) do help keep the hedgehog numbers down. If you’re interested in trapping hedgehogs on your property get in touch and we may be able to help.
Predator Free NZ have come up with 5 surprising facts about hedgehogs. If you still need convincing that hedgehogs are a pest, watch Last March of the Hedgehogs (5min).