Hedgehogs Hear Ultrasound — and That Could Save Them
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📰 The quick summary: Hedgehogs can hear ultrasound at frequencies up to 85kHz, opening the door to sound-based deterrents that could protect them from roads and dangerous machinery.
📈 One key stat: Up to one in three hedgehogs may die on roads annually in Europe, highlighting how urgently new protection tools are needed.
💬 One key quote: “This could be a game changer for hedgehog conservation,” said the research team after finding that hedgehogs can hear sounds that humans, dogs, and cats cannot.
1️⃣ The big picture: Hedgehog populations across Europe are shrinking rapidly, with the species now listed as ‘near threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list. One of the biggest killers is road traffic, which may claim up to one in three hedgehogs every year. New research has now revealed that hedgehogs can hear high-frequency ultrasound — up to at least 85kHz — well beyond the range of human hearing. Scientists used detailed ear scans and brain-activity measurements on 20 hedgehogs to confirm this finding. That discovery raises a promising possibility: ultrasonic signals could one day be used to warn hedgehogs away from approaching vehicles or dangerous garden machinery.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Knowing that hedgehogs can hear ultrasound gives scientists a realistic, targeted tool to design deterrents that protect hedgehogs without disturbing people or their pets. Because ultrasonic frequencies sit far above what humans, dogs, and cats can hear, any future warning system could operate invisibly in everyday environments. Roads and machinery have long posed threats that hedgehog instincts simply aren’t equipped to handle, so a sound-based solution addresses the root of the problem rather than asking the animals to adapt. Beyond individual protection, effective deterrents could help stabilize and eventually recover hedgehog populations across Europe. This research also opens up a broader conversation about how industry — including car manufacturers — could actively fund and support wildlife conservation technology.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers now need to identify which specific ultrasonic sounds hedgehogs respond to most strongly and whether they habituate to repeated signals over time. Scientists also need to determine how far ultrasonic signals can travel in real-world outdoor environments. The research team has suggested that the car industry could help fund the next phase of this work.
Read the full story here: The Conversation – Hedgehogs can hear high-frequency ultrasound – that knowledge could help save them
