Overview
- Published in Biology Letters on March 11, 2026, the study recorded auditory brainstem responses in 20 rehabilitated hedgehogs across roughly 4–85 kHz, with peak sensitivity near 40 kHz.
- High-resolution micro-CT scans and a 3D ear model showed stiff middle-ear bones, a small stapes, and a short, compact cochlea consistent with ultrasonic hearing.
- Researchers propose ultrasonic emitters for cars, robotic lawnmowers and garden strimmers that hedgehogs can hear but humans and most pets cannot.
- The team is seeking industry collaborators and is launching behavioral and safety tests to evaluate effectiveness, potential harm, habituation, and impacts on non-target species.
- All tested animals were vet-checked and released, and researchers are also investigating whether hedgehogs use ultrasound for communication or prey detection.