Labrador detecting hedgehogs ahead of water works

Bracken has been sniffing out wildlife with the teams for the past year

A water company has enlisted the help of a Labrador to help detect and relocate wildlife in areas where it plans to work.

Northumbrian Water has employed the skills of Bracken, a four-year-old dog trained to detect vulnerable species including hedgehogs and nesting birds before it conducts surveys across North East sites.

Bracken, who lives with his trainer Trina Barrett in County Durham, is deployed ahead of hedgerow cutting and vegetation clearing works.

Sandra Lowe, founder of charity Hope for Hedgehogs, says she hopes the animals are moved to well researched areas and provided appropriate aftercare as they are "complex animals".

Mrs Lowe said: "In theory it is a great idea and every council, builder, everybody, should be employing them, but what is the aftercare management, what do they do?

"Hedgehogs are best in their local environment, they know where the food and water is.

"What you should do is be moving them a minimum of two miles away so they can't go back if there is a danger. It is no good sticking them up the road."

Northumbrian Water say any hedgehogs identified are moved to a safe place on site or a nearby shelter

A Northumbrian Water spokesperson said: "The welfare of hedgehogs is really important to us.

"If we identify any, we work closely with Trina and our partners to ensure they're either carefully moved to a safe place on site or, if needed, taken to a local hedgehog charity for care.

"We also support these charities with donations for items such as bedding and flea treatments."

Bracken is also a family pet

Ms Barrett, who holds a certificate as a Conservation Detection Dog Handler, says Bracken's skills have been developed through hands-on experience living in an area which has a healthy hedgehog population.

She says Bracken "genuinely loves what he does" but equally enjoys being their family pet.

"His role isn't only rewarding but also vital, by helping to detect and protect vulnerable species before any work begins," Mrs Barrett said.

"Outside of his role, he's a much loved pet who enjoys his walks, playtime and being part of the family."

Zoe Frogbrook, from Northumbrian Water, said: "Bracken is detecting the presence of hidden animals such as hedgehogs or nesting birds which we might not always be able to spot and, by doing so, he's supporting our efforts to make sure we don't impact the biodiversity on our sites."