Sparrows and hedgehogs are the latest to go on the at risk list?

Question

Why, when they used to be so common place.

Should we all make an area in the garden for our wildlife species to live in? If the garden is too tidy its no good for hedgehogs etc.

With all the destructive influences at work in the countryside not least of which is the govt. the Brits wont be the only native species to go!

Answer 1

I have a flock of about 50 house sparrows that seem to spend a lot of time in my garden and in the neighbouring gardens. It is the same in the whole village and surrounding villages. I think it is nonsense to say that they are an endangered species.

Answer 2

why the government do you not mean man, we are the ones taking everything away from the animals, i.e places to live, roads to run our never ending cars and such like one, oh and not forgetting homes to live in.

It is easy to point the finger at one place but we are all to blame for what is happening in our country, keep burying your heads in the sand and that is all you will be left with sand.

I have a garden that is home to frogs and badgers foxes and such like even found an elephant moth pupae and i live in a built up area, we live alongside each other pity many more cannot do the same.

Answer 3

Soon their won't be anything left even humans will soon become extinct that is frightening.

Answer 4

Geezzz all those sparrows must just be at my house. I always have bunches of them in my backyard. Now hedgehogs, I cant comment, but there is no shortage of sparrows in my neck of the woods!

Answer 5

Dawn and dusk are the times when birds will get attacked by cats.  A few years back the government was urged to put a curfew on pet cats being allowed out between those times, alas it didn't happen.  People should not feed a hedgehog, they should let it do what it does naturally - hunt for food.  They get rid of slugs, snails and other garden pests.  They walk up to 2 miles in their nightly visits (within their boundary).

Leave them water by all means, but make sure ponds are safe from them falling in.

Answer 6

I love animals. They taste good.

Answer 7

I have loads of sparrows that visit my garden on a daily basis,they splash around in the fish pond and also like a nice dust bath on a hot day.If you want to attract birds to your garden buy a hanging nut holder and wild bird nuts(wilkinsons have a good selection),hang it from a tree and enjoy.

Answer 8

It's their habitats that are at risk, not the species.

House sparrows get the worst of all worlds.  Because we are more environmentally aware, our houses are better insulated and we don't have holes at the eaves for sparrows to move in.  They adapted to move into our houses thousands of years ago and became a different species to the tree sparrow.

The problem for hedgehogs is not so much tidy gardens as tiny gardens.  They prefer to spend the day away from humans and come out to hunt at night.  Modern town gardens aren't big enough for them.  They also don't get on with cats.

Answer 9

building of new roads is not good for the hedgehogs. I would be stupid to entice sparrows into my garden when I have a 4 legged preditor living with me who enjoys torturing birds and beheading them before presenting them on the patio!!

I think we should set something up away from any cats!!

Answer 10

i think we should make a little backyard habitat for ALL animaals, especially the threatened and endangered ones. me and my bro want to put a little pond in our backyard, but it would attract bugs.

Answer 11

Funny that I've seen more sparrows this year than ever

HAHAHAHA what total nobs gave me thumbs downs! I have seen more this year you jerks

Answer 12

must have more sanctuary areas, in many diverse places.

Answer 13

Many Hedgehogs are also killed on our roads,along with far too much of our wildlife. A little care when driving on the roads can prevent needless wildlife deaths.

Be especially watchful for wildlife at dawn, dusk, and in the first few hours after darkness falls.

Every apple core, french fry, and smelly sandwich wrapper tossed out of a car attracts wildlife to roadsides—often with fatal results. Never throw litter from your car.

The rapid changes in our urban & suburban environment has caused house sparrows to disappear from many of our towns and cities. The removal of hedges and front gardens for car parking has eradicated the cover used by most of our sparrows as an important part of their habitat requirements.

While many interesting ideas have been put forward about sparrow decline, by those who are actively studying the problem, sparrow loss is continuing apace because critical time is being wasted looking for a mystery cause that does not exist.It's really strange that while all over the world, endangered animal species are facing extinction because their habitat is under threat from mankind, the humble British house sparrow is oddly perceived as not affected by local habitat destruction. Then there is the increasing widespread use of pest and weed-killers in people's gardens, now that these unnecessary products are absurdly peddled by greedy multinational chemical companies and sold without restraint by supermarkets alongside their groceries.I'm fortunate enough to have a large garden, where I have two large ponds,and a stream,which attracts a variety of wildlife. In one corner I have a large Cedar tree under which I place grass cuttings,hopefully Hedgehogs will/do visit...

Answer 14

If i had a garden i would promote wild life.

Answer 15

the roads have really cause this with them getting hit also the house increase on parts of green land have taken away there homes, people shud leave out some milk and dog food if they can it there gardens and bird table and box and this will soon bring them back and make them safe

Answer 16

It is a shame to think of these little animals becoming endangered, however please remember that species all over the world become extinct every day just because their habitat is changed or the climate changes or their food disappears or their genes are weak. Not all extinctions can be laid at mans doorstep.

The only thing that you can count on in this world is change

Answer 17

There are so many things contributing to this lessening of British wildlife.  The rise of crowded housing isn't helpful, as it means fewer gardens for them to roam in, and tidier gardens are less likely to provide the environment they need.  The increase in prarie farmin has not been helpful, as it has reduced the number of English hedgerows, and those that are left are often viciously cropped when the birds and animals most need them for protection.  

What you can do for wildlife inthe garden are the following:

Leave a patch, more if you can, of untrimmed plants, nettles and long grasses - this will provide hiding places for insects and snails for hedgehog snacks, and somewhere for the hedgehogs to sleep.  It'll also give the smaller birds something to eat.  

DON't use pesticides to keep the snails off the garden - these are one of the worst contributing factors to hedgehog mortality in the suburbs, as any slugs and snails they eat will contain poisons which will accumulate and kill the hedgehog.  

Instead, try using citrus products, eggshells, or salt around the pots, and a thick layer of Vaseline on the pot sides to stop them crawling up.  If you want to treat a larger area, try the products from www.defenders.co.uk which are natural and harmless parasitic predators.  

Also try leaving out pet food for them - never bread and milk, as this, however, well-meaning, can compact unpleasantly within their digestive system and may kill them.  

Try leaving out fat balls for bluetits and other creeping garden birds, and seeds, well out of the reach of cats, for sparrows.  In nest-building time, mainly spring, they may appreciate scraps of wool, hair or soft nesting materials.  

Cheese, dried fruit and seeds are always welcome treats for small birds in the winter - if you have a little patience you may even get them tame enough to eat near you while you're in the garden too!  But remember not to give them nuts or seeds in spring, as they may accidentally choke their young on the bits.  

Check out the RSPB, the RSPCA and Springwatch (Bill Oddie's programme) for more details on how you can help preserve your local indigenous wildlife...