Bunscoill Rhumsaa pupils are supporting the first hedgehog population study to be carried out in the island.

The year five students have been setting up observation tunnels at Milntown and will be monitoring them as part of a Manx Wildlife Trust project.

Inside each tunnel is a hedgehog-friendly meal. Ink is on either side of the dish so footprints will be left for the charity to use as data.

Biodiversity education officer Dawn Dickens said: ’The kids loved it. Especially when it gets a bit messy with the ink. No one has ever done a study on the hedgehog population in the island so we don’t know how many there are.

’The UK’s hedgehog population is in decline and it’s not really known why exactly, but a main reason is due to habitat loss. Nottingham Trent University is very interested in our results because in the UK hedgehogs are affected by predation of badgers and foxes. As the island has neither of these animals our results might give a clearer picture of why hedgehogs are decreasing.’

Residents are invited to take part in the survy by buying a tunnel for £15. A dish of dog or cat food - not fish flavoured - should be used to attract hedgehogs. Water, not milk, should also be provided.

’We also urge people to report any squished ones on the road. It’s quite gruesome but it tells us a lot about the population.’ See www.manxwt.org.uk/Hedgehog