Abstract
We report on the design and construction of a Global Positioning System (GPS) backpack to collect positional data of European hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus. The device consisted of a microGPS unit plus a VHF transmitter to facilitate unit recovery. It was constructed to articulate when the animal rolled up and to prevent snagging on objects or nests. Backpacks were fitted to 28 hedgehogs with eight reattachments at different seasons (N = 36 samples). Units fixed hedgehog positions at high rate for an average of 5 days to address our study on spatial ecology at fine scale. We recorded the normal execution of defensive rolling behaviour, impediments on natural movements across vegetation and nest occupancy, and also changes in body mass. We could not discern any negative effect associated with the backpack for attachments up to 8 days; hence, we consider this design to be appropriate for tracking European hedgehogs over this length of time.