Research
Thomas Hardy School Tick Project (June 2015 - November 2016)
HHR have been participating in a study investigating the spread of Lyme disease within ticks across Dorset. The project is being led by Simon Lewis, a biology teacher at the Thomas Hardy school in Dorchester. Students from the school work with undergraduates from the university of Exeter, & using the latest laboratory techniques, have been attempting to determine the distribution of Borrelia (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease) within ticks across Dorset. Local vets & wildlife organisations have been collecting the ticks from a variety of animals for the students to use, & this is where HHR could help! Most hedgehogs that come through our doors have at least a few ticks, so we have been more than happy to be able to help with this interesting project! Next year (2017), we will be invited along to a presentation to find out the results. If you would like to know more about the project, have a look at the link below. Thank you to Simon Lewis for inviting us to be a part of your study, one of our rescue aims is; 'to assist with behavioural & scientific research as we are able', so we are very happy to be helping!
HHR have been participating in a study investigating the spread of Lyme disease within ticks across Dorset. The project is being led by Simon Lewis, a biology teacher at the Thomas Hardy school in Dorchester. Students from the school work with undergraduates from the university of Exeter, & using the latest laboratory techniques, have been attempting to determine the distribution of Borrelia (the bacteria that causes Lyme disease) within ticks across Dorset. Local vets & wildlife organisations have been collecting the ticks from a variety of animals for the students to use, & this is where HHR could help! Most hedgehogs that come through our doors have at least a few ticks, so we have been more than happy to be able to help with this interesting project! Next year (2017), we will be invited along to a presentation to find out the results. If you would like to know more about the project, have a look at the link below. Thank you to Simon Lewis for inviting us to be a part of your study, one of our rescue aims is; 'to assist with behavioural & scientific research as we are able', so we are very happy to be helping!
Dissertation for BSc Animal Behaviour & Welfare (September 2016)
In the third & final year of my BSc degree in Animal Behaviour & Welfare, I wrote a dissertation entitled; Factors affecting the presence of thorny-headed worm (Acanthocephala) in European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in the UK. If you are interested in reading about my findings, please send an email to me.
Hayley Dent BSc
(HHR Founder)