Dogs muzzled after death of hedgehogs

SNIFFER dogs being used to find hedgehogs in the Western Isles have been muzzled after two of their targets died.

One hedgehog died from injuries attributed to being picked up by a dog and a second death is thought to have been caused the same way.

Over the past eight years, a project has removed 174 non- native hedgehogs from North Uist and 1,448 from Benbecula, where they eat the eggs of native waders.

A report on the Uist Wader Project, to be discussed by the Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) board today says the use of dogs significantly improves the efficiency of locating and removing the hedgehogs.

The deaths have been discussed with animal welfare organisations and the dogs have been allowed to continue, provided they wear muzzles.

The report says SNH's reputation and future funding could be at risk if the agency is not seen to be paying sufficient regard to hedgehog welfare issues.

The board will be asked to continue the project, which has cost 1.3 million to date, for another four years, despite the report saying there is no statistical evidence at this stage that removing hedgehogs has improved the wader populations.