Mammals

Hedgehog Welfare in the UK and Europe

Wild hedgehog populations in Britain have declined by over 50% since 2000, making garden-level conservation increasingly critical.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have fallen from 30 million in the 1950s to under 1 million today
Hedgehogs travel 1-2 km per night foraging — garden barriers are a major threat
They hibernate from November to March and require undisturbed winter nesting sites
Hedgehogs eat beetles, earthworms, and slugs — making them valuable garden allies
Road deaths kill an estimated 100,000-300,000 hedgehogs annually in the UK

Welfare Considerations

Garden fragmentation by solid fencing traps hedgehogs in territories too small for adequate foraging. Slug pellets containing metaldehyde poison hedgehogs that eat affected slugs. Bonfires built on top of hedgehog nests kill hibernating animals. Road casualties cause suffering from traumatic injuries. Rehabilitated hedgehogs released into unsuitable habitat face slow starvation. Creating connected, wildlife-friendly gardens directly prevents suffering at scale.

What You Can Do

Cut a 13cm x 13cm hole in garden fences to allow hedgehog passage
Avoid using metaldehyde slug pellets near hedgehog habitats
Build log and leaf piles as winter nesting sites
Check bonfires before lighting by moving them to check for animals
Register your garden with the Big Hedgehog Map to aid research