Manx Wildlife Trust is looking for people to help record the number of hedgehogs in the island.

The UK has seen a worrying decline in the species.

The People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Society have been monitoring the trend.

In their recent ’State of Britain’s Hedgehogs’ report, they estimate that between 2002 and 2017 rural hedgehog populations have fallen by a third.

In the same time, urban hedgehogs’ numbers fell. But there are indications that this maybe levelling out or even rising slightly.

There are many possible reasons for the phenomenon.

Experts say it is probably a combination of intensification of agriculture (habitat loss and reduction in insect prey), road casualties and more being eaten by badgers and foxes.

The fact that there are no badgers or foxes in the island makes the Manx population more interesting to study, the MWT says.

The trust suggests that urban hedgehogs are under pressure owing to the trend for gardens to become poorer for wildlife due to decking, paving and fewer gardens having flowers and vegetables.

Graham Makepeace-Warne, the MWT’s marketing and membership manager, said: ’Even though the island is small, Manx Wildlife Trust cannot monitor all the land.

’The fact that hedgehogs are nocturnal doesn’t help.

’We are asking the public to become involved with monitoring and reporting back to us in a citizen science experiment.

’By placing a hedgehog tunnel in your garden and monitoring it for footprints we will be able to see if there are hedgehogs present. Even if you don’t record any footprints this still informs us of the population size and trends.’

He added that it was an easy project to undertake and just required setting up the tunnel near a hedge or wall in a garden, and leaving it baited with food to entice the hedgehog in.

Any animal visitors would then walk over an ink pad and leave footprints behind.

Mr Makepeace-Warne said: ’This is a safe and harmless way to detect hedgehogs!

’It’s a lovely activity to get the whole family involved in and you can lend your tunnel out to other friends and family. All we ask is that you report back on the date, location, if the bait was taken and if you found any footprints of hedgehogs.

’There will be a downloadable leaflet advising you on the best places to put your tunnel, and an identification guide to the footprints which you might find.’

The information and the feedback form is website www.manxwt.org.uk and hedgehog tunnels can be ordered through Manx Wildlife Trust.

The trust will be holding a workshop at the iMuseum on Saturday, April 28, from 2 to 4pm.

Any who want to go should book via the museum services at https://manxnationalheritage.im/whats-on/detail/manx-wildlife-week-helping-hedgehogs

There will be a limited number of tunnels available for sale so anyone who wants one should say so when booking.

At the event people from the trust will demonstrate how to set up a tunnel.