LOUGHTON: Hedgehog attack mystery solved

4:34pm Thursday 9th October 2008

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THE full facts of mystery attacks on hedgehogs at a couple’s home have emerged - after they set up CCTV cameras in their garden.

Derek and Sandra Knight, of Chequers Road, in Loughton - who rescue hedgehogs - spent years wondering what was attacking the prickly animals.

And when they decided to set up CCTV cameras they results were disturbing.

Click on the 'Play Video' link above to watch the CCTV footage.

"The first night we heard an almighty scream," Mr Knight said.

”We looked on the camera monitor and saw the fox which had grabbed one hedgehog and had bitten it underneath.

”The fox escaped over the fence and two hedgehogs were fatally injured. "The girl had her stomach ripped open and her guts were hanging out and was screaming.

"The boy was tightly curled up screaming in pain."

The couple recently appeared on the Channel 5 television programme Animal Rescue Squad where Mr Knight was filmed taking an injured hedgehog to the Essex Wildlife Trust after it had been attacked by a fox.

He said: "Urban foxes are out of control and are responsible for killing and maiming thousands of hedgehogs every year. They play a huge role in the decline of hedgehogs all over the country."

Despite hedgehogs having prickles as a natural defence, foxes have devised a cunning way to attack the animals.

"The fox pounces on a hedgehog which curls up on contact," explained Mr Knight.

"The fox freezes and stays perfectly still about two foot away, the hedgehog hearing nothing, thinks it is safe and slowly uncurls.

As it puts its back legs out to run the fox springs, grabs the hedgehogs back legs with its long snout and bites and twists and throws the hedgehog up in the air."

Mr Knight believes the attacks are adding to the decline of hedgehogs which have been added to the endangered species list.

He said: "Until I actually saw it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believed it. I wish it wasn't true, because many hedgehogs would still be alive.

“I always used to tell people that foxes are not a problem or danger to hedgehogs. I was wrong."

He added: "It has taken several years and hundreds of victims to finally understand the cause."

Although Mr and Mrs Knight do their best to help injured hedgehogs, they rely on donations and have run out of money.

• To find out more about what they do, how you can help or donate money to help the hedgehogs visit their website at http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/index.htm.