Wildlife

Hedgehog Welfare in Urban Gardens

Hedgehog populations have declined 97% in the UK since the 1950s; simple garden changes create critical habitat and reduce mortality.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations fell from 30 million to under 1 million since 1950
Road traffic, pesticide use, and garden fragmentation are primary drivers of decline
Hedgehog highways of 13x13cm holes in garden fences allow hedgehog ranging
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde and methiocarb kill hedgehogs

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs trapped in enclosed gardens face starvation when food runs low. Those accessing roads face vehicle mortality; those in gardens using pesticides suffer slow poisoning. Individual hedgehogs trapped in bonfires, garden netting, or strimmers suffer acute trauma. Simple garden management changes create habitat and reduce mortality for this rapidly declining species.

What You Can Do

Create a 13x13cm hedgehog highway in your garden fence
Avoid pesticides toxic to hedgehogs and their invertebrate food sources
Check bonfires before lighting for sheltering hedgehogs
Report hedgehog sightings to national monitoring programs