Hedgehogs are having ‘very noisy’ sex while humans are in lockdown

The prickly little creatures have become ‘extremely active’.

Hedgehogs are ‘extremely active’ during lockdown and have been overheard indulging in ‘very noisy’ lovemaking, an expert has said.

Michael Walker, a mammal recorder at the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, said they had been spotted venturing out a lot more after humans were told to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic.

He told the BBC some people had even sent him clips of ‘randy’ hedgehogs, adding: ‘I’ve had a video sent to me of a male pursuing a female… very noisily.

‘When two males are involved, it can cause quite a commotion with even more huffing.’

Mr Walker urged more people to record their experiences with wildlife and share them with the Trust.

A study by Nottingham Trent University revealed that the mortality rates for hedgehogs had halved during lockdown as the number of vehicles on the road dropped dramatically.

Figures show that between the end of March and beginning of April there were a little over 140 road kill sightings recorded, compared to 381 for the same period last year.

Fay Vass, chief executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, said they had seen a spike in interest around the little animals, particularly in the lead-up to Hedgehog Awareness Week next month.

But she warned that with more people using the spare time in isolation to mow their lawns there was a risk of the prickly creatures being injured or gardens being made less friendly for them.

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