05 - "Le hérisson animal de la forêt qui n'y habite peut-être plus" : Nicolas Messieux (Chercheur indépendant)

COLLOQUE « HABITATS FORESTIERS ET FORÊTS HABITÉES » COMMENT USAGES, GESTIONS ET PRATIQUES SOCIALES INTERAGISSENT AVEC LA FAUNE SAUVAGE EN FORÊT ?"

Ce colloque international, qui s'est tenu au sein du Domaine national de Chambord (26 et 27 mars 2019), s'inscrit dans le cadre du projet de recherche COSTAUD (Contribution des OnguléS au foncTionnement de l’écosystème et AUx services rendus à ChamborD, financé par la Région Centre-Val de Loire et porté par l'Irstea, 2016-2019).

Toutes les informations sur le colloque : https://living-forests.sciencesconf.org/

 Le colloque "Habitats forestiers et forêts habitées" a abordé la forêt, part de l'imaginaire et des paysages, comme lieu d’interactions entre l’homme et la faune sauvage.

Il a été l'occasion de réfléchir à l’empreinte passée de nos activités, aux déterminants actuels et leurs enjeux, ainsi qu’aux perspectives d’évolution des forêts et des habitats qui les composent.

Pour y parvenir ont été privilégiées les approches pluridisciplinaires tenant compte de l’écologie de la faune sauvage et des forêts, de leurs représentations sociales et de la fréquentation touristique associée à ces patrimoines naturel et culturel.

Session "Facteurs environnementaux et humains à l’origine des populations animales actuelles"

"Le hérisson animal de la forêt qui  n'y habite peut-être plus" : Nicolas Messieux (Chercheur indépendant)

Résumé de l'intervention :

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Tradition links European hedgehogs (Erinaceus sp.) to trees. They have been said to carry tree fruits on their quills (Pliny, Physiologos) and modern figurines show them holding/carrying mushrooms or leaves. Moreover, tales, folklore, children's literature, and mainstream books clearly present the hedgehog as a forest animal

Studies about hedgehogs' ecology consistently show contradictory results about whether they like forested areas or not. They are difficult to spot in tree-covered areas, leading to a sur-representation of country- or peri-urban-found individuals in studies. Numerous hard-to-isolate characteristics (density, paths, clearings, deciduous/non-, undergrowth) also explain variations. Geographical distribution of hedgehogs nevertheless follows that of forests (Morris & Berthoud). The latter thinks that they mainly hibernate in woodland.

Our anthropological researches show that hedgehog carers and enthusiasts consider forests as being this animal's original habitat and “lost paradise”. They often release rescued hedgehogs at the edge of the forest, so that they can disappear (almost morph) into its original environment. They explain that forests have been replaced by hedges and orchards, which are being destroyed by urbanization. Suburban gardens therefore became hedgehogs' last haven.

Our examination of contemporary children's stories shows that a frequent theme is a hedgehog exploring, leaving and/or returning to the forest. By leaving “home”, breaking its own immobility and challenging natural cycles (seasons, sleep), a hedgehog puts itself in danger. But, by doing this, it becomes wiser, more cultured or finds a new ideal place (usually a garden) to live.

All these somewhat contradicting points could be united within one hypothesis. Tales, folklore and children's stories could be an ethnohistorical record of hedgehogs' past life as a forest animal. That the hedgehog historically took refuge in woods (the carers point of view) would have been to escape hunting and/or human destruction – like other forest animals are said to have done. But, it has now become safe(r) to live in man-controlled areas, as displayed in contemporary children stories and evidenced by the high densities of hedgehogs found in peri-urban areas by scientific studies. Going out of the forest, hedgehogs would be establishing a new true commensal “civilised” relationship with humans.