Supporting Hedgehogs in Your Garden: Welfare and Conservation

UK hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% since 2000. Gardens can provide crucial habitat, food, and safe passage if designed with hedgehog needs in mind.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined from approximately 30 million in the 1950s to under 1 million today
Hedgehogs travel 1-2 km per night foraging — garden fences fragment their territory severely
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde or methiocarb poison hedgehogs that eat poisoned slugs
Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and should never be given milk — it causes diarrhoea and dehydration
A simple 13 cm x 13 cm hole at the base of garden fences allows hedgehog passage between gardens

Welfare Considerations

Fragmented urban landscapes trap hedgehogs in small gardens without sufficient food to maintain body condition. Insufficient food stores before hibernation lead to animals entering torpor underweight — a condition that is often fatal. Slug pellet poisoning causes neurological symptoms, convulsions, and death over hours. Road traffic kills hedgehogs attempting to cross fragmented habitats. Pesticides reduce invertebrate prey, removing the food source hedgehogs need for survival. Well-designed gardens that offer access, shelter, food, and freedom from pesticides can genuinely support individual hedgehog welfare and population recovery.

What You Can Do

Make or join a hedgehog highway — coordinate fence holes with neighbours
Leave areas of your garden wild with leaf piles and log stacks for hedgehog nesting and foraging
Switch to wildlife-friendly slug control — nematodes, copper tape, and hand picking instead of pellets
Record and report hedgehog sightings to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society survey
Never put out milk or bread — use specialist hedgehog food or dog or cat food instead