Oxford News
New study suggests ultrasound could help save hedgehogs
Dr Rasmussen added: “Our novel results revealed that European hedgehogs are designed to, and can, perceive a broad ultrasonic range. A fascinating question now is whether they use ultrasound to communicate with each other, or to detect prey – something we have already begun investigating.”
Lead researcher Assistant Professor Sophie Lund Rasmussen, Wildlife Conservation Research Unit and Department of Biology.
The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is one of our best-loved mammals, but populations are in grave decline with the species being newly classed as “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2024. A major cause of hedgehog deaths is road traffic accidents, which are thought to kill up to one in three hedgehogs in local populations.
A new study now suggests that ultrasound repellers could be used to deter hedgehogs from roads, reducing the number killed by cars. Up to now, it was unknown whether hedgehogs could hear this range.
Lead researcher Assistant Professor Sophie Lund Rasmussen (Wildlife Conservation Research Unit/Department of Biology, University of Oxford and University of Copenhagen) said: ‘Having discovered that hedgehogs can hear in ultrasound, the next stage will be to find collaborators within the car industry to fund and design sound repellents for cars. If our future research shows that it proves possible to design an effective device to keep hedgehogs away from cars, this could have a significant impact in reducing the threat of road traffic to the declining European hedgehog.’
Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen. Credit: Joan Ostenfeldt.
In the study, researchers at the University of Oxford collaborated with colleagues in Denmark to test the auditory brainstem response of 20 rehabilitated hedgehogs from Danish wildlife rescue centres. This method uses small electrodes placed on the animals to record electrical signals travelling between the inner ear and the brain, while short bursts of sounds are played through a small loudspeaker.
The electrodes detected that the brainstem fired when signals were played across a range of 4-85 kHz, with a peak sensitivity around 40 kHz. This demonstrates that hedgehogs can hear in the ultrasound range (which starts at frequencies greater than 20 kHz), up to at least 85 kHz. After being checked by a veterinarian after the experiments, the hedgehogs were released back into the wild on the following night.
The team also carried out high-resolution micro-CT scans of a dead hedgehog (which had been euthanised after being critically injured by a rat trap). The scans were used to build an interactive 3D model of the hedgehog’s ear, revealing features never seen before. The model showed that hedgehogs have very small, dense middle-ear bones and a partly fused joint between the eardrum and the first of these bones. This makes the whole chain of bones stiffer, helping it pass very high-pitched sounds efficiently – a hallmark of animals, such as echolocating bats, that can hear ultrasound.
Infographic of the study’s findings. Credit: Public Affairs Directorate, University of Oxford, and Getty Images.
These scans also revealed that hedgehogs have a small stapes (the smallest middle-ear bone that connects the chain of ear bones to the inner ear’s fluid-filled cochlea). A smaller, lighter stapes can vibrate more quickly, enabling it to transmit high-frequency sound waves. The cochlea was also found to be relatively short and compact, enabling it to better process ultrasonic vibrations.
Model of hedgehog ear bones. Credit: Rasmussen et al 2026.
The results suggest that it would be possible to design ultrasonic repellents that can be heard by hedgehogs, but not humans or pets.* If proved effective, these could potentially be used to deter hedgehogs from roads and other potential threats, such as robotic lawnmowers and garden strimmers.
Co-author Professor David Macdonald (Wildlife Conservation Research Unit/Department of Biology, University of Oxford) said: ‘It is especially exciting when research motivated by conservation leads to a fundamental new discovery about a species biology which, full circle, in turn offers a new avenue for conservation. The critical question now is whether the hedgehogs respond to ultrasound in ways that might reduce the risks of collisions with robotic lawnmowers or even cars.’
The study was a collaboration between the University of Oxford, The Natural History Museum Denmark at University of Copenhagen, City Dyreklinik (Copenhagen), Aarhus University, Aarhus University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark.
The study ‘Hearing and anatomy of the ear of the European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus’ has been published in Biology Letters.
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*Humans hear in the range of 20-20,000 Hz, dogs 67- 45,000 Hz, and cats 45-65,000 Hz.
St Hugh’s School, a co-educational day school and boarding school for pupils aged three to 13, is located at Carswell Manor, and is about to launch a new senior school.
The independent school will welcome its first cohort of Year 9 pupils in September 2026, with the first group of GCSE pupils completing their studies in 2029.
READ MORE: UK private school prepares for expansion
The opening of the senior school follows the purchase of nearly 20 acres of land next to the existing site.
The newly acquired land will play a central role in the school’s strategic vision for the next five to 10 years.
To coincide with the launch of the senior school, free bus travel is being trialled for pupils.
The school said in a statement: “We are thrilled to share our new initiative for all our families in September 2026.
“Through our existing bus routes, and an additional Oxford route, we are offering our families a free bus service to and from school for pupils in Years 1-9.
“We are hoping this offering will support our families both financially and logistically, whilst delivering on our pledge to be more sustainable as a school and to reduce congestion within the local area.”
The school added buses can be booked for just morning or afternoon each day.
It said: “In addition, we will offer a free breakfast club for pupils in Year 1 and above who are unable to use our current offering of bus routes.
“Supper will also be available for all Year 3 pupils free of charge. This is an addition to our existing free wrap-around care provision before and after school for children from reception upwards.
“We hope that this initiative will offer families greater flexibility to ensure we support them logistically on a day-to-day basis.”
Both the free transport and meal provision will run as a trial for the 2026-2027 academic year, during which the school will assess enthusiasm, viability, and long-term sustainability.
If uptake remains strong, the school hopes to expand the offer further in future.
To ensure fair access for as many as possible, and to prevent block bookings for unused seats or meals, St Hugh’s will introduce a small charge to cover costs in cases where journeys or meals are missed at short notice.
St Hugh’s has been working closely with architects to shape a comprehensive development plan, including a new dining room, enhanced teaching spaces, and expanded facilities for the pre-prep, prep, and the new senior school which formally opens in June this year.
An open morning for prospective parents and pupils was held on May 8, and places at the senior school are now being advertised.
The party group has a new leadership team in place after it held its seats at the May 7 polls, but failed to make new gains in the authority.
Dr Chris Smowton, who led the group for four years and into the 2026 vote, has been replaced by Katherine Miles, who represents Summertown.
She said: “I am delighted to take the baton from Chris as we head into a critical period of time of change in our city.
“The local government re-organisation will reshape the way the city is run – we need to ensure Oxford has a strong voice.
“I will work to seek a fairer and more sustainable open economy in Oxford and tackle the dual climate and nature emergencies.”
Ms Miles was first elected in 2021 and has lived in Oxford for more than a decade.
Her background is in international development, women’s financial inclusion and climate risk insurance.
She added: “Thank you to Chris Smowton for his effective leadership of the group over the last four years. I look forward to continuing to work together.”
Dr Smowton, who represents Headington, will now be deputy leader of the group.
He said: “This is a vital year for Oxford as we go into a generational change in local government structure.
“I will work to hold the Labour minority to account and fight to ensure we deliver affordable housing, genuinely safe roads and a cleaner, greener city.”
Kitri, known for its bold and contemporary womenswear, made the announcement on social media earlier this week.
Haeni Kim, the brand’s founder, said it was the “only responsible path forward” after “exploring every possible avenue”.
Haeni added the decision to shut “had not come easily”, and described running the brand as “one of the greatest privileges” of her life.
Ms Kim launched the London-based label in 2017.
UK High Street Shops That No Longer Exist
Following the closure announcement, Kitri has launched an online clearance sale with up to 70 per cent off remaining stock.
In a statement shared online, the company said: “As we begin to wind down operations, we invite you to shop with KITRI one last time – including archive favourites and our final Spring Collection, all at reduced prices. Delivery and returns will continue as normal during this time.
“Thank you for the last nine years and I hope these pieces will continue to bring you joy for years to come.”
The announcement was met with disappointment from customers, who flooded Kitri’s Instagram with messages of support.
One comment read: “Genuinely panicked and heartbroken, I have loved your brand since the very beginning, no dresses for me like yours have.”
Another supporter took to the comments section to say: “I will continue to wear my Kitri pieces with pride and will always be proud to have been a Kitri girl.”
Another user wrote: “No this is tragic! I’m very sorry to read this and sending you a big hug and lots of luck for your next chapter.
“I will continue to wear my Kitri pieces with pride and will always be proud to have been a Kitri girl.”
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