Wildlife

Hedgehog Welfare in the UK

British hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% since 2000 due to habitat loss, pesticide use, and road mortality.

Key Facts

Hedgehog populations in the UK have fallen from 30 million to 1 million since 1950
Road mortality kills an estimated 100,000 hedgehogs annually
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde are toxic to hedgehogs
Garden walls and fences prevent hedgehog movement
Hedgehog numbers are increasing in urban areas while declining in rural farmland

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs killed by vehicles suffer traumatic deaths. Those poisoned by pesticides experience slow neurological deterioration. Hedgehogs caught in garden netting or drowning in ponds suffer prolonged deaths. Habitat fragmentation caused by solid garden fencing prevents hedgehogs from accessing the territory they need to find sufficient food, leading to starvation.

What You Can Do

Create hedgehog holes in garden fencing (13cm x 13cm)
Remove slug pellets and use hedgehog-safe alternatives
Create hedgehog houses in sheltered garden corners
Drive carefully on rural roads at night during autumn