Urban Hedgehog Population and Welfare

Hedgehog populations have declined dramatically across the UK but urban areas now represent important refuges, and garden management decisions directly affect their welfare.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by around 50% since 2000
Urban and suburban areas now have more stable hedgehog populations than rural farmland
A single male hedgehog may travel 3km or more on a single night
Road mortality, garden nets, slug pellets, and bonfires are leading causes of death and injury
The hedgehog is considered an umbrella indicator species for garden biodiversity

Welfare Considerations

Urban hedgehogs face welfare challenges including road mortality, entanglement in garden netting, slug pellet poisoning, and bonfire burning. These are all directly caused by human activity and are preventable. Garden fencing that prevents movement between gardens is a significant barrier to the ranging behaviour hedgehogs need. Hedgehogs that cannot range sufficiently cannot access adequate food and mates. Simple changes including hedgehog holes in fences and removing netting at ground level have immediate welfare benefits.

What You Can Do

Create a 13cm diameter hedgehog hole in your garden fence
Check bonfires thoroughly before lighting for hibernating hedgehogs
Remove netting and wire mesh from ground level where hedgehogs can become entangled
Never use metaldehyde or ferric phosphate slug pellets which harm hedgehogs
Install a hedgehog house in an undisturbed garden corner for nesting