Professor Wigglebottom, Aoteaora's only hedgehog hunter

From Checkpoint, 4:31 pm on 16 December 2025

Professor Zachariah Q Wigglebottom is Aoteaoa's only certified hedgehog pest detection dog and its a busy time of year for him right now. They might look cute but DOC says hedgehogs hoover up the eggs of native birds, lizards, the rare giant native centipeded, weta and other rare insects. Wigglebottom's handler, Adriana Theobald spoke to Lisa Owen about the work they do.