In 1885, New Zealand introduced hedgehogs to fight pests; today, they threaten native wildlife

European hedgehogs were brought to New Zealand during the 1800s to help manage garden pests.

However, these spiky creatures now pose a grave danger to the country's unique wildlife.

They feast on the eggs and young of various native species, significantly impacting fragile ecosystems, particularly those involving ground-nesting birds.

As a result, ongoing conservation initiatives are prioritizing hedgehog removal to protect these threatened populations.