A Review of the Occurrence of Metals and Xenobiotics in European Hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

Abstract

Monitoring data from several European countries indicate that European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) populations are declining, and research exploring the causes of the decline, including exposure to potentially harmful xenobiotics and metals, may inform conservation initiatives to protect this species in the wild. Hedgehogs are ground-dwelling mammals, feeding on a range of insects, slugs, snails, and earthworms, as well as eggs, live vertebrates, and carrion, including carcasses of apex predator species representing higher levels of the food chain. Consequently, hedgehogs come into close contact with contaminants present in their habitats and prey. This review investigated the studies available on the subject of the occurrence of metals and organic xenobiotics in hedgehogs. This study found that a vast range of different pesticides; persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including organochlorine compounds and brominated flame retardants (BFRs); as well as toxic heavy metals could be detected. Some compounds occurred in lethal concentrations, and some were associated with a potential adverse effect on hedgehog health and survival. Due to their ecology, combined with the opportunity to apply non-invasive sampling techniques using spines as sampling material, we suggest that the European hedgehog is a relevant bioindicator species for monitoring the exposure of terrestrial wildlife to potential toxicants in urban and rural environments.

Contaminantes orgánicos persistentes: Impactos y medidas de control

“…Además, se encontraron niveles interesantes desde el punto de vista nutricional de elementos esenciales como Fe, Zn y Mn en las especies estudiadas. En las investigaciones sobre xenobióticos y metales en erizos realizadas por Rasmussen et al (2024), sus resultados evidenciaron la detección de una amplia variedad de pesticidas, COP, que incluyeron compuestos organoclorados y BFR (retardantes de llama bromados), así como metales y metaloides, en muestras de erizos recolectadas en diversas ubicaciones de Europa. En algunos casos, se observaron concentraciones letales de estos compuestos, ocasionando envenenamiento fatal en los erizos.…”

Applied Hedgehog Conservation Research

“…This might trigger aggression between competing hedgehogs and increase the potential risks of injury and disease transmission from close, as well as aggressive, intraspecific encounters, or contact with other competing or predatory species that are attracted to the food [ 38 ]. However, ingestion of natural prey items may also cause risks to the hedgehogs, as Williams et al demonstrated that molluscs, commonly eaten by hedgehogs, are potential vectors of rodenticide poisons [ 39 ], providing a potential explanation for the high prevalence of rodenticides that have been detected in hedgehogs in previous studies [ 29 , 40 ].…”

“…The participation of rescue and rehabilitation centres in research can be extremely valuable and can reveal much about the problems facing hedgehogs in the wild [26,27], as can studies carried out in captivity examining behaviour and hibernation [28]. Rescue centre records can provide year-on-year data on the numbers and causes of admissions and can also contribute samples to studies of, for example, infectious and non-infectious diseases; the prevalence of environmental pollution by pesticides, heavy metals, organic pollutants, and other ecotoxins [29]; plastic waste [15]; and the occurrence and characteristics of cut injuries that are presumably caused by garden tools like robotic lawn mowers [30]. Studies by Rasmussen et al of robotic lawn mowers have shown important differences between models in the risk of injury to hedgehogs, creating the basis for specific design improvements to mitigate such risks [31,32].…”