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Dear PAULA,
Endangered British hedgehogs are waking up from hibernation and heading out into spring face a new threat. The government have just approved a trap, used in New Zealand to kill hedgehogs, for sale in the UK. [1] The trap delivers a powerful blow which kills animals instantly - putting our already shrinking hedgehog population at risk.
The traps are supposed to be used on rats in the UK, but experts think it’ll be impossible to stop accidental hedgehog deaths. [2] John rescues hedgehogs with his wife and sees everyday the many dangers our prickly friends face. So he set up a 38 Degrees petition calling on the government to protect hedgehogs and ban the trap. [3]
John’s not the only one who's worried. Hedgehog experts are also sounding the alarm. [4] But so far, the government haven’t taken action. If hundreds of thousands of us add our voices, it could be enough to force the government to reconsider and put the safety of our hedgehogs first.
So PAULA will you sign the petition and help protect endangered hedgehogs? It only takes 30 seconds
SIGN THE PETITION
SIGN THE PETITION
Hedgehogs are so endangered, it’s illegal to kill them without a license - even by accident. The government hopes that if set up correctly, the new trap won’t catch hedgehogs. But hedgehog expert Huge Warwick isn’t convinced.
“Though they’re not being marketed to kill hedgehogs, they will kill hedgehogs here…The reality is nobody is going to be policing it, nobody is going to be out there, and hedgehogs will get caught in these traps” [5]
With half of our hedgehog population disappearing since 2000, it’s a risk we can’t afford to take. [6]
38 Degrees members have a long history of standing up for Britain’s nature. Over one million of us took part in a huge campaign to get bee-killing pesticides banned in the UK - and we did it! [7] Together we helped make sure that our bees will be around for generations to come. There’s no reason why we can’t do the same for hedgehogs.
So PAULA please can you sign the petition now to help protect our much loved hedgehogs.
SIGN THE PETITION
Thanks for being involved,
David, Cathy, Robin and the 38 Degrees team
PPS:
Jenny Matterface started their petition on the 38 Degrees 'Campaigns by You' website.
With Campaigns By You anyone can start their own campaign with the click of a button. But that’s just where your journey begins. Creating a petition, then sharing it with friends and colleagues, can soon give you a groundswell of support. Perhaps you’ll end up changing something really important.
Use this link to get your campaign started today, it takes just a couple of minutes and we’ll support you every step of the way:
https://38d.gs/newcae7fa0Notes:
[1] In New Zealand where the A24 trap was designed hedgehogs are considered a pest but here in the UK hedgehogs are legally protected.
The Independent: Imported trap approved by Government to kill pests also lethal to Britain’s dwindling hedgehog numbers:
https://38d.gs/imporb9fcb[2] See note 1
[3] 38 Degrees: Our hedgehogs need help
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/our-hedgehogs-need-help[4] See note 1
[5] See note 1
[6] Sky news: Britain's hedgehog population halved since 2000, report finds:
https://38d.gs/hedgec73b3[7] 38 Degrees: Our bees are saved:
I hope that the link works.
