Wild Animals

Wild Hedgehog Garden Hazards

Gardens contain numerous hazards for hedgehogs including netting, ponds, bonfires and slug pellets, and simple modifications can make gardens dramatically safer.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs drown in steep-sided ponds they cannot escape from
Garden netting left low can entangle hedgehogs causing injury and death from starvation
Strimmers cause severe injuries to hedgehogs concealed in long grass
An estimated 30% of hedgehog deaths are human-related including road traffic and garden hazards

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs entangled in netting suffer slow starvation or circulatory injury from tight mesh. Drowning in ponds causes death without intervention. Strimmer injuries create severe lacerations requiring veterinary intervention. Even when treated, strimmer-injured hedgehogs have poor outcomes. Many hazards are entirely preventable through simple garden management practices.

What You Can Do

Raise netting to at least 30cm when not in use and peg it down securely when protecting plants
Install a ramp or escape route in any steep-sided pond
Check areas before strimming with a pole to disturb concealed hedgehogs
Replace metaldehyde slug pellets with iron phosphate or physical barriers