Hedgehogs

The Guardian (here) on the ongoing controversy surrounding the hedgehog cull on the Western Isles:

"SNH has been eager to clear the three islands of North and South Uist and Benbecula of the rodent-like mammals for two years because they eat the eggs of legally protected wading birds.
So far it has spent an estimated £360,000 killing about 250 animals mainly on Benbecula and North Uist. There are believed to be another 4,000, mainly on South Uist."

Leaving aside the morality of killing the hedgehogs and the methods of doing so, I am rather surprised by the cost. Doing the sums, it would appear that the average cost to date per hedgehog is more than £1400, which seems rather expensive. Furthermore, if that average cost remains the same, the completion of the programme would amount to about £6 million - something of a bonanza for Western Isles hedgehog hunters.