‘Hedgehog Officer’ Is a Real Job and This Town Is Hiring

A wildlife group in England is on the hunt for its next “Hedgehog Officer” who officials hope will turn the town of Ipswich into the “most hedgehog friendly” area in the United Kingdom.

Job seekers have until next Wednesday to apply for the full-time role that involves transforming Ipswich — a town fragmented by houses, roads and gardens — into a flourishing habitat for the spiny mammals that populate the area.

That involves motivating residents to remove “barriers” like fences and walls to allow the animals to move freely across town and leading hands-on training events and an awareness campaign alerting the public to their needs, Suffolk Wildlife Trust says in its job listing.

“We are looking for an inspirational individual who will be the face of hedgehog conservation in Ipswich,” the listing says. “Bringing together your wildlife conservation skills and your experience of leading and developing community wildlife initiatives, you will mobilize participants in Ipswich to create a street by street network of hedgehog accessible habitat and monitor hedgehog activity.”

The job lasts for at least two years and pays about $31,000.