Ultrasound Deterrents Could Save Hedgehogs from Roads
Scientists discover hedgehogs can hear high-frequency ultrasound, raising hopes that sonic deterrents could keep them off dangerous roads and curb their population decline.
Hedgehogs, the beloved spiny mammals, have faced a drastic decline in population across Europe in recent decades. One major factor contributing to their dwindling numbers is the threat posed by vehicles on roads, with an estimated one in three hedgehogs being killed by cars and trucks.
However, a new study has offered a glimmer of hope in the effort to protect these creatures. Researchers have discovered that hedgehogs possess the ability to hear high-frequency ultrasound, a finding that could lead to the development of effective deterrents to keep them off roads.
The study, published in a scientific journal, has revealed that hedgehogs can perceive sounds at frequencies much higher than humans can hear. This ability could be exploited to design specialized ultrasound repellers that emit frequencies undetectable to humans but highly disruptive to hedgehogs, deterring them from approaching dangerous roadways.
Source: The Guardian
