Urban Wildlife

Hedgehog Road Mortality: Solutions and Citizen Action

Road mortality is one of the leading causes of hedgehog death in the UK, with an estimated 100,000-340,000 hedgehogs killed on roads annually, contributing to population decline.

Key Facts

An estimated 100,000-340,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads annually
Peak hedgehog road mortality occurs in spring as juveniles disperse and in autumn before hibernation
Hedgehog-friendly road design including culverts and underpasses reduces mortality significantly
Citizen science recording of road casualties provides valuable population data
Urban hedgehog populations in some areas have stabilized due to garden habitat improvements

Welfare Considerations

Road-killed hedgehogs often die slowly from impact injuries rather than instantaneously. Surviving injured hedgehogs may spend days in distress before being found or dying. The cumulative welfare impact of hundreds of thousands of road casualties annually, combined with population-level effects, makes hedgehog road mortality a significant welfare and conservation concern.

What You Can Do

Report road-killed hedgehogs to citizen science recording schemes
Reduce driving speed at dawn and dusk in residential areas with hedgehog populations
Support campaigns for hedgehog-friendly road design in new developments
Donate to hedgehog rehabilitation centers and wildlife hospitals
Create garden hedgehog habitats that reduce the need to cross roads