Ultrasound waves could help hedgehogs avoid being run over by cars

"One in three hedgehogs is killed in road traffic incidents, as the population faces a grave decline, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2024. But a new study by the University of Oxford has discovered that the much-loved mammal can hear high-frequency ultrasounds, with their hearing sharper than that of dogs or cats."

"Having discovered that hedgehogs can hear in ultrasound, the next stage will be to find collaborators within the car industry to fund and design sound repellents for cars. If our future research shows that it proves possible to design an effective device to keep hedgehogs away from cars, this could have a signi[ficant impact]."

A University of Oxford study reveals that hedgehogs can hear high-frequency ultrasounds at levels sharper than dogs or cats. This discovery offers potential solutions to reduce hedgehog mortality from road traffic incidents, which kills approximately one in three hedgehogs according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Researchers propose that ultrasound repellers could be integrated into vehicle designs to deter hedgehogs from roads. Dr. Sophie Lund Rasmussen, an assistant professor at Oxford's wildlife conservation research unit, indicates the next phase involves collaborating with car manufacturers to develop and fund effective sound-based deterrent devices for vehicles.

Read at www.independent.co.uk