Injured hedgehogs, which are in long decline in rural Britain, have been seen injured and suffering in traps left out in Pontardawe. Dog walkers have encountered the traps which have been left not only on public grassy areas, but also on pavements.
And they have discovered hedgehogs who have become stuck in the traps, or injured and struggling to free themselves. Pontardawe resident Hollie Owen said she had been walking her dog in the Swansea Valley when she found the traps. You can follow more stories from Swansea by subscribing to our daily newsletter.
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She said: "I was taking my dog for a walk on Ynysmeudwy Road, and when we went up the path to Bethesda Road she had started smelling something by a tree. I couldn’t see much because of how dark it was, but I put my torch on and seen that it was a hedgehog that she found.
"I was so upset to see it was in the trap. I love animals and just wanted to help it and set it free. It must have had a fright seeing us, as it ran onto the bank. I couldn't take it to my house because I didn't want my dog Willow getting to it, so I posted to see if anyone could help.
"Whoever has put this trap out, hasn’t given much thought about anything else getting harmed. If people are going to put out traps they should keep them in their gardens not on a public pavement. It's also a risk to young children or dogs and cats.
"I tried phoning RSPCA but there was no getting through to them, and I didn’t know if any vets were open for emergencies to help out, so I posted about it to see if anyone can help. It broke my heart seeing this happen".
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society has been calling on people to help preserve hedgehogs, which are in a long historic decline in the UK. A survey commissioned by the charity, together with the People's Trust Endangered Species, found Britain's hedgehog populations have declined in rural areas by up to 75% They say greater awareness and people making gardens more hedgehog friendly are vital to help halt the decline.
An RSPCA spokesman said: “ We are very saddened to hear that a hedgehog has been trapped and hope this hedgehog is not badly injured. We would always recommend humane methods of deterring rodents but, if this fails, we recommend employing a professional pest controller
“These traps are very dangerous and must only ever be used responsibly as they can cause horrendous damage - and could even be fatal for a trapped animal. If people are using these traps, it is vital they understand that they must only be used for the target species, and should be set in a way that minimises the risk of catching non-target animals, e.g. laid in a tunnel - whether that be natural or artificial.
“Sadly, many human activities can pose other dangers to hedgehogs - such as mowing, building bonfires, or the use of sports or fruit netting. We publish advice and guidance on living with hedgehogs, and other wildlife too; so we can all keep Wales’ wonderful wildlife safe.
“Advice on ways to humanely deter rats and mice is available on our website. Anyone coming across an animal caught inside a snare or trap should never try to free it as it may hurt the animal, and releasing the animal could be an offence if it was trapped legally.
"Additionally, many animals caught by traps are more seriously injured than they appear, so it is best that they are examined properly to see if they need veterinary treatment. People should stay back to avoid stressing the animal, and call the RSPCA’s emergency line (0300 1234 999) with the location of the trap.
"If anyone finds the injured hedgehog and has concerns about its wellbeing they can call us on 0300 1234 999. We would urge people to also check our advice online on handling them as you must make sure you wear gloves if you have to handle a hedgehog, as they can carry diseases like ringworm or salmonella bacteria which can be passed to humans."
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