HEDGEHOG STUDIES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28658, 7 August 1958, Page 16

HEDGEHOG STUDIES

First Full Inquiry

/New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 6.

Oie of the first full investigations into the habits of the hedgehog is being made by a young scientist, Mr R. E. Brockie, in the Animal Ecology Section of the department of Scientific and Industrial Research.

His investigations have gone on over the last two years and a half in New Zealand and Mr Brockie will soon go to England to continue his study. Much ctf his time has been spent studying the eating habits of the wild hedgehog and he is satisfied that the opinion held by many persons that hedgehogs’ favourite food is the eggs of hens and game birds is a fallacy.

He has found that their main food is slugs and snails, though it has varied from place to place depending on' what is available. In order to establish the population densities of hedgehogs in certain parts of the country, Mr Brockie for some time has had members of his department keep a close watch for dead hedgehogs. Mr Brockie says that research in recent, months has shown that hedgehogs are She carrier of leptospira pomona which takes a heavy toll of catves each year and which is also found in human beings. Previously, it had been thought that the disease was spread only by pig’s.