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Participant Information Sheet
Before you take part, look through the project details before giving us your consent
Purpose of the study
This study aims to investigate which mammals use residential gardens, with a particular focus on hedgehogs, rats and mice, and to identify the garden features that influence their presence, such as bird feeders or vegetation. Understanding where these species overlap will help us identify factors that may increase the risk of hedgehogs being exposed to rodenticides used to control rats and mice.
Requirements
You are eligible to take part if you:
live in Great Britain or the island of Ireland;
have access to a private garden; and
have a motion-activated trail camera or security camera.
If you live in or near Reading or Bracknell, we may be able to lend you a camera for the study (subject to availability).
What will you do?
Timing
Participate in Summer 2026 and/or Winter 2026/2027.
Run the survey for a minimum of 7 days. If you wish, you can continue for up to 14 days.
Ideally, repeat the survey once a month for three months each season, but taking part just once is perfectly fine.
Survey setup
Make two small holes in a tin of sardines and attach it securely to a sturdy structure (e.g. a fence or pole). Position the tin no higher than 10 cm above the ground to allow hedgehogs to investigate it.
Place the camera approximately 2 metres from the bait station and leave it recording throughout the survey.
Replace the sardine tin every 3–4 days to maintain the scent. If an animal removes the tin, replace it as soon as possible.
Check the camera regularly and replace the SD card or batteries if required.
After the survey
Upload your images to MammalWeb.
Complete a short questionnaire about your garden and its features.
Your rights
Right to withdraw from participating at any time if you change your mind.
Your private information will be kept confidential and only accessed by the research team.
Your name and contact details will not appear in any reports or publications.
Feel free to ask us any questions at any time. Please contact us using the details below.
Data management
What data we collect: We'll collect the information you provide via online forms, such as the features of your garden. We'll also collect data from videos uploaded to MammalWeb as part of this project.
Personal information: Personal details such as postcode, names and email addresses will be stored separately from your camera-trap data. This means that your data will be anonymised before analysis.
Storage and security: Video data will be uploaded directly to MammalWeb and stored securely on their platform. All other data will be stored on password-protected university systems and/or encrypted drives, accessible only to members of the research team.
Risks to you
Risks associated with taking part are minimal as you’ll just be setting up cameras and sardine tins in your garden.
Participants should take care when handling sardine tins, cameras and when attaching equipment outdoors to avoid minor cuts, scrapes, or tripping hazards. Wildlife may approach the food bait, but there is no risk of injury from animals.
Standard precautions, such as washing hands after handling equipment and ensuring tins are securely fastened, are recommended.
As with all online projects, there is a very small risk of a data breach. However, all data will be stored securely and handled in line with the University of Reading’s data protection policies.
Any questions? Contact us at ratsandhogs@reading.ac.uk
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