There are so many threats to the wildlife on our planet nowadays that we are rarely surprised when we (1) ... about another one. However, some people might find it difficult to believe that small creatures like hedgehogs (ежи) would be the cause, rather than the victims, of one of these threats. One resident of an island which (2) ... off the west coast of Scotland describes how this extraordinary situation has come about. It appears that hedgehogs are not native to the islands. They (3) ... by a gardener who thought they (4) ... an effective way of controlling the slug (сли­зень) population. There are now so many hedgehogs on the island that they (5) ... many rare birds at risk because they eat birds' eggs. The hedgehogs are everywhere  — so what are the local people going to do about it? One group of conservationists tried to transport hedgehogs to the mainland. The plan might have succeeded if residents on the mainland hadn't pointed out that the hedgehogs would become just as much of a threat on the mainland as on the island. But, if action (6) ... soon, the continuing increase in the hedgehog population (7) ... in the disappearance of certain rare species of birds.