According to studies, hedgehog populations in rural Britain are declining. Based on the State of Britain’s Hedgehogs report, the number of hedgehogs in rural regions has decreased by 30 to 75 percent since 2000. According to the statistics, hedgehog numbers are beginning to rebound in towns and cities, which is a “stark contrast.” Prickly mammals rely on hedgerows and field edges for survival, and their loss could hasten their extinction. The report reviewed data from five ongoing surveys conducted between 1981 and 2020 by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS). Hedgehog populations have been declining for some time, but according to the study, there are now “vast differences” between urban and rural populations. The BHPS’s chief executive, Fay Vass, believes that immediate action is required to determine why rural areas are no longer suitable hedgehog habitats. “They have lived here for at least half a million years,” she said. “So we need to understand how conservationists, farmers, and land managers can work together to prevent hedgehogs from becoming extinct in the countryside.”