Wildlife

Hedgehog Welfare in Gardens

Hedgehogs are Britain's most beloved garden mammals, yet their numbers have fallen by 30% in rural areas and over 50% in some urban areas since 2000.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs travel up to 2km per night foraging for invertebrates
They hibernate from November to March in leaf piles or log stacks
Road deaths kill an estimated 100,000+ hedgehogs annually in the UK
Hedgehogs have around 5,000-7,000 spines for defence
A hedgehog can eat 20% of its body weight in a single night

Welfare Considerations

Garden hazards pose serious welfare risks. Strimmers injure hedgehogs sheltering in long grass. Slug pellets poison them directly or reduce their invertebrate food supply. Steep-sided ponds cause drowning. Bonfires built on top of hedgehog hibernation sites are a significant cause of death. Road kills cause acute trauma. Many hedgehogs rescued with injuries face lengthy rehabilitation or euthanasia.

What You Can Do

Check for hedgehogs before strimming long grass
Cut a 13cm gap in garden fences to allow hedgehog movement
Cover or provide a ramp in ponds
Use wildlife-friendly slug control methods
Build bonfires on the day of burning, not days in advance
Feed supplementary wet cat food or hedgehog food in dry weather