SCOTTISH NATURAL Heritage may have to start shooting hedgehogs in North Uist—thanks to anti-hunting legislation.

One of the most effective methods for locating hedgehogs in areas of the Outer Hebrides where the animals are at low density is by using dogs.

In previous years, once the trained dogs had located the introduced hedgehogs, which have been responsible for a massive reduction in breeding wading birds, the animals were disposed of by being given anaesthetic gas and a lethal injection.

However, under the anti-hunting legislation, using dogs in this way to search for hedgehogs brings it within the definition of hunting, and a report to go before the SNH main board tomorrow notes that it is then illegal to give the hedgehogs lethal injections; they must be shot—or killed by birds of prey.

The report suggests that if the Uist Wader Project intends to carry on using dogs to locate the hedgehogs SNH has two options: to seek a change in the legislation to allow the use of lethal injection to kill hedgehogs or to change the method of humane dispatch and shoot hedgehogs located by dogs.

Hedgehogs caught by spotlamping and trapping can continue to be given lethal injections. It is only those that dogs locate which will have to be shot.

While trapping and spotlighting are successful in areas of high hedgehog density “the inability to use dogs presents a significant constraint when it comes to locating the last few animals,” the report by Western Isles area manager David Maclennan continues.

The report notes that in an area of North Uist where 66 hedgehogs were removed in 2003 only 13 were caught last year and it was estimated that only 24 remained on the island.

Research carried out in the autumn, including lamping, reports from dog owners and road kills, suggests the position is not as positive as it seemed in the spring. Further efforts will be carried out in North Uist next year to remove all the remaining hedgehogs.

In Benbecula, where there is a higher density of the animals, 240 were removed in 2004 from an estimated population of 450-700.

It is not just hedgehogs that are causing problems to indigenous wildlife in the Outer Hedbrides.

SNH are also seeking to control the population of North American mink.

A report suggests the only answer to the problems they are causing is eradication.

It says that with £10 million per annum brought into the area through wildlife tourism, mink are a direct threat because of their potential effect on major bird populations and game fishing.