- One in three hedgehogs are killed in road traffic incidents, contributing to the species' declining population.
- A new study by the University of Oxford has discovered that hedgehogs possess super-hearing, capable of detecting high-frequency ultrasounds up to 85 kHz, which is sharper than dogs or cats.
- This finding suggests that ultrasound repellers could be developed for cars to deter hedgehogs from roads, potentially reducing fatalities.
- Researchers tested 20 rehabilitated hedgehogs from Danish wildlife rescue centres, recording their auditory brainstem response to sound bursts.
- The next stage involves seeking collaboration with the car industry to fund and design effective sound repellents, aiming to significantly reduce the threat of road traffic to European hedgehogs.
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