Wildlife

Urban Hedgehogs: Helping Britain's Favourite Mammal

Hedgehogs have declined by over 50% in the UK since the 1990s. Urban hedgehogs face a different set of threats than rural ones, but urban environments may actually offer refuges if designed thoughtfully.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog numbers have fallen from 30 million in the 1950s to under 1 million
Urban hedgehogs have higher survival rates in some studies than rural counterparts
Road deaths, garden hazards, and habitat fragmentation are major threats
Hedgehogs travel up to 2 km per night in search of food
Bonfire stacks and garden bonfires are a significant mortality cause

Welfare Considerations

Urban hedgehogs face starvation from insect decline, physical injury from garden equipment, entanglement in netting, drowning in garden ponds, and death from road traffic. Garden chemicals that kill invertebrate prey deprive hedgehogs of food. Connecting urban gardens with hedgehog-sized gaps in fences, removing hazards, and providing supplementary food in cold snaps can meaningfully improve urban hedgehog survival.

What You Can Do

Create a 13cm gap in garden fences for hedgehog access
Check bonfires for hedgehogs before lighting
Avoid slug pellets and garden pesticides
Provide fresh water and hedgehog-safe food in drought or cold
Join local hedgehog monitoring networks