Ulster Wildlife has started a GPS tracking project for hedgehogs in Northern Ireland. The effort aims to record their nighttime paths through urban areas. Male hedgehogs receive lightweight tags attached temporarily to their spines. The tags stay on for a few days then get removed without harm.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency issued a licence for the tagging. Only males receive tags to prevent disturbance to nesting females. The GPS units record routes across gardens, roads, feeding spots, and rest areas each night.

Conservation Detection Dogs NI trains Ireland's first hedgehog detection dog for the project. The dog helps locate hedgehogs and any lost tags.

Katy Bell, senior conservation officer at Ulster Wildlife, noted that hedgehogs move through several gardens nightly and cross roads. She said connected green spaces matter for their survival, based on early findings.

The project receives funding from Power NI and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs via the carrier bag levy. It follows a survey plan developed with Nottingham Trent University researchers. More hedgehogs will get tagged before autumn hibernation.

Maureen Carvill, wildlife gardening officer at Ulster Wildlife, stated the data will guide households and housing groups in creating garden links, cutting harmful chemicals, and pushing for road safety in hedgehog areas.

Ulster Wildlife requests public reports of hedgehog sightings at ulsterwildlife.org/report-sightings.