A Dorset resident has lamented the use of paint to keep track of hedgehogs in the county.

The mammals have reportedly been spotted with 'obvious large paint marks' on their backs in the village of Martinstown, near Dorchester.

One villager, who did not wish to be named, told the Dorset Echo that this can damage hedgehogs' skin and affect their camouflage, making them more vulnerable to predators.

She added that the animals are 'probably the most loved of all British small mammals' but has warned that their numbers are dwindling in the UK.

The hedgehogs are said to be marked with emulsion paint, potentially by those looking to keep track of their numbers and movements.

The RSPCA said that a small amount of water-based paint 'shouldn't be harmful' to hedgehogs but it 'would be concerned' if more than a small dot or two was used.

"Painting hedgehogs can cause irritation to the skin and interfere with camouflage," the Martinstown resident said.

"We found that there were a couple of hedgehogs with what looks like emulsion paint on them and it is not just a little dot.

"I do not know who is doing it. They probably care very much but they are possibly doing damage. 

"They are lovely creatures and their numbers are very much on the decline. If they are putting hedgehogs at risk then they are in breach of certain rules and regulations."

The Dorset resident added that radiotracking, not paint, should be used if there is a professional need to study the movement of hedgehogs.

She also said that they need safe passages such as hedgerows to be able to roam the countryside and raised fears that these are 'still being uprooted by landowners at an alarming rate'. 

"This means hedgehogs risk being exposed to hazards such as traffic," she said.

"They need safe passages such as hedges which provide a ‘highway’ for them to move around."

Meanwhile, milk, cheese, fish and bread can be harmful to the mammals, as well as cat food, which is often left out for them.

Dried hedgehog nuts are readily available from garden shops and are more suitable for their diet.

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "This is something that happens for wild hedgehogs involved in studies to monitor their populations, although there are other ways of marking them too.

"If it's a small amount of water-based paint it shouldn't be harmful and shouldn't make them more vulnerable to predators, so the RSPCA would be concerned if it was much more than a small dot or two.

"Assuming it's a proper scientific study, researchers should ideally be following guidelines.

"Some people will also try to track their garden hedgehogs using paint but we wouldn't recommend it for that purpose as there's no real scientific benefit.

"We do use paint in our centres but that's only for baby hogs so that we can monitor their individual weights. It's not something we would use for adults as we track them using radio tags instead."