Wild Animals

Wild Hedgehog Urban Survival

Urban hedgehogs face significant threats from garden hazards, fragmented habitat and road mortality, but thrive where residents make simple habitat improvements.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by up to 50% since 2000
Garden fences fragment habitat, preventing foraging ranges of 2-3 km per night
Bonfires, strimmers and slug pellets kill thousands annually
Hedgehog highways (13cm square holes in fences) allow movement between gardens

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs trapped in fragmented urban gardens face nutritional stress, reduced mate-finding success and higher parasite burdens. Injuries from garden machinery cause severe trauma. Poisoning from metaldehyde slug pellets causes convulsions and painful death. Connected gardens with natural slug control support healthy hedgehog populations.

What You Can Do

Create a hedgehog highway by cutting a hole in your garden fence
Avoid metaldehyde slug pellets; use iron phosphate pellets or physical barriers
Check bonfires before lighting for sheltering hedgehogs
Provide fresh water and supplementary food (wet cat or dog food) in dry summers