In 2024, 50,000 hedgehogs were reported, last year 55,000. WWF and Nordens Ark now want to receive as many observations of hedgehogs - both alive and dead - as possible from the public.
According to Jessica Ångström at WWF, the hedgehog is an endangered animal that is increasingly being affected by traffic, loss of habitat, disease, parasites and environmental toxins.
Last year's data showed that the animal appears to be missing from several places where it was previously found - such as areas around Gothenburg, parts of Bohuslän and Dalsland, and north of Stockholm up towards Uppsala.
There seems to be a shortage of them there and we can't really answer why right now," says Ångström.
Facts: Counting hedgehogs
Hedgehog Week occurs in week 33, this year 10-16 August, for the third year in a row. The project is run by WWF and Nordens Ark and will last for at least five years. Funding comes from the Swedish Postcode Lottery.
The public is asked to report where, when and how many hedgehogs they have seen - or alternatively that they have not seen or have never seen any at the location.
Reporting is done on the website:
https://www.wwf.se/svensk-natur/sveriges-igelkottar/igelkottsveckan/#rapportera
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