International Scientific Conference for Rehabilitators of European Hedgehogs

Welcome to the International Scientific Conference for Rehabilitators of European Hedgehogs.

***Update 16th of March 2020: Due to the development of the corona situation, we have decided to postpone the conference to Saturday 19^th –  Sunday 20^th of September 2020. All participants should have been informed via email.***

***Update 7th of February 2020: We are proud to report that all 75 funded seats are now reserved for participants from 14 different European countries! We do have 20 non-funded extra seats to offer, if the participants can pay for their own expenses. We have also established a waiting list for the funded seats in case of cancellations. See details and instructions on the Registration page***

A conference with the purpose of inspiring and strengthening the collaboration between hedgehog researchers and hedgehog carers to serve the common, important goal of preserving the European hedgehog in the wild.

The conference will take place from Saturday the 18th of April to Sunday the 19th of April 2020.

The venue will be Legoland Hotel & Conference in Billund, Denmark.

Participation and accommodation during the conference is free of charge for the 75 participants who have already signed up for the funded seats, due to the generous funding provided from Dyrenes Beskyttelse and QATO Fonden. Travelling to and from the conference is at the participant’s own expense.

We encourage all European hedgehog rehabilitators to sign up for participation as we would like to see representatives from as many countries as possible.

The conference will be hosted by Dansk Pattedyrforening/Danish Mammal Society.

With this conference we wish to bridge the gap between hedgehog researchers and hedgehog carers internationally. We hope to establish a strong and respectful collaboration between the scientists and the care practitioners with the purpose of improving hedgehog conservation. It is essential that we work together and strengthen our teamwork to help save the declining hedgehog population.

The conference furthermore serves to present the most recent hedgehog research and hedgehog conservation initiatives from all over Europe to inspire and inform all participants at the conference.

We have decided to make the conference participation and accommodation from 19th of September to 20th of September free of charge for all hedgehog rehabilitators, hopefully allowing as many participants as possible to join us.

The conference has been postponed to Saturday 19^th –  Sunday 20^th of September 2020. An updated programme will be made available when the speakers have been confirmed.

Programme for International Scientific Conference for Rehabilitators of the European Hedgehog

Day 1:

9-10: Registration and coffee

10-10:15 Welcome (Dorthe Madsen)

10:15-10:45 Veterinarian Ole Caspersen: How Animal Protection Denmark rehabilitates hedgehogs

10:45-11:15 Veterinarian Rikke Hansen: A short introduction to pain medication, anesthesia and teeth problems in hedgehogs

11:15-11:30 Break

11:30-12 Hedgehog researcher and DVM student Merel Klaarmond

12-12:30 Senior lecturer and PhD student Lucy Bearman-Brown: Hedgehog Rehabilitation: Estimating the scale of the task in hand

12:30-13:15 Lunch

13:15-14 Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen: Suburban juvenile European hedgehogs in Denmark & Measuring behaviour and glucocorticoid levels in European hedgehogs

14:00-14:30 Professor Dawn Scott: Should rehabilitated hedgehogs be released in winter? A comparison of survival, nest use and weight change in wild and rescued animals

14:30-14:45 Coffee break

14:45-15:30 Discussion: How to improve collaboration and communication internationally and between researchers and practitioners? How do we implement scientific results in the way we practise hedgehog care?

15:30-18 Legoland (the rides are open until 17, the park until 18). Walk and talk!

18-19 Conference stalls are open 

19 Conference dinner

Day 2:

Remember to check out before today’s programme starts. You can store your luggage in the reception

9-10 To be confirmed: Zoonotic diseases in Western European hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus)

10-10:15 Break

10:15-10:45 Dr Sophie Lund Rasmussen: The Danish Hedgehog Project

10:45-11:15 Zoologist Beate Strøm Johansen: What did we learn from a radio telemetry study of hedgehogs in Trondheim (central Norway), and how can a citizen science project be useful?

11:15-11:30 Break

11:30-12 Dr Anne Berger: Overview of research methods to learn more about hedgehogs

12-12:30 Discussion: What would you like the researchers to investigate?

12:30-13:15: Lunch 

13:15-13:45 Hedgehog rehabilitator Inge Tornkjær: Managing a small, independent hedgehog rehabilitation centre

13:45-14:15 Dr Anne Berger: Hedgehogs in Berlin – how to become a real city dweller 

14:15-14:30 Break

14:30-15 Dr Deborah Wright: Hedgehog rehabilitation in central England

15-15:30 Zoologist Hugh Warwick: Persistence, petitions and hedgehog highways

15:30-16 Info about the Facebook group, evaluation, should we do this again: how, when and where? 

Thank you and get home safely!

The conference will take place from Saturday 19^th –  Sunday 20^th of September 2020.

The venue is the gorgeous Legoland Hotel & Conference in Billund, Denmark, situated only a few kilometres from Billund Airport.

Getting to and from the venue from Billund Airport: We recommend taking a taxi from the airport, as the cost is only around 100-150 Danish kroner (11-17 GBP or 13-20 euros).

Don’t hesitate to contact us for further advice on travelling to and from the venue.

***Update 16th of March 2020: Due to the corona situation, the conference has been postponed until Saturday 19^th –  Sunday 20^th of September 2020.

***Update 7th of February 2020: We are proud to report that all 75 funded seats are now reserved for participants from 14 different European countries! We do have 20 extra seats to offer, but they cost 2405 Danish kroner per person (including conference participation, accommodation incl. hotel room from 18th to 19th of April, conference dinner and access to Legoland on the 18th and 19th of April). If you wish to participate in the conference and conference dinner and find your own accommodation, the price is 1465 Danish kroner per person (not including an overnight stay at the conference venue). Please contact us if you wish to reserve one of the extra seats (info@hedgehogconference.com). We have also decided to establish a waiting list for the funded seats in case one or more delegates have to cancel their participation. If you would like to be registered on the waiting list, please contact us (info@hedgehogconference.com) ***

It is possible to book a stay at the venue from 18th of September to 19th of September and/or 20th of September to 21st of September at your own expense. It is also possible to bring guests, who will not be participating in the conference, at your own expense. Here are the prices and instructions for booking extra nights/guests:

• If you wish to bring an extra guest to the venue, who will not be participating in the conference activity, you can book a double room instead of a single room for 200 Danish kroner per guest per night (at your own expense), which will cover breakfast and the room. 

• If you wish to book a room from the 18th-19th and/or 20th-21st the cost is 1195 Danish kroner per night including breakfast. If you wish to bring a guest (and get a double room), the price is 1395 Danish kroner per night including breakfast (= an extra 200 Danish kroner per guest per night).

• If your guest wants to participate in the conference dinner on Saturday night on the 19th, the price is 329 Danish kroner.

• As a conference participant, you will have access to LEGOLAND on the 19th and 20th of September. However, your guest will not have access to LEGOLAND included in the price. This requires the purchase of a ticket to LEGOLAND. We have arranged for a special discount for the tickets (normal price 399 Danish kroner per day):
  • A two-day ticket for 1 person (both for children over 3 and adults, covering e.g. the two conference days): 321 Danish kroner.
  • If you wish for a third or fourth day in LEGOLAND, an extra day day ticket can be bought for 129 Danish kroner per day.
  • The same prices apply to you as a participant, should you wish to visit LEGOLAND on the 18th and/or 21st of September. 

• To make your booking, please contact us and we will provide you with instructions.

Conference dinner: Drinks other than water during the conference dinner will be at your own expense. The venue offers ad libitum beer/wine/soda for 275 Danish kroner during the dinner, and additional ad libitum beer/wine/soda for three more hours for an extra 150 Danish kroner. It is of course also possible to buy a single glass of wine or beer.