Hedgehog Conservation and Welfare: Britain Favourite Mammal in Decline

The hedgehog is Britain most popular wild mammal but has declined by 70% in rural areas since 2000. Understanding the causes and how to address them makes hedgehog welfare one of the most actionable UK wildlife issues.

Key Facts

Hedgehog populations have declined by around 70% in rural areas and 30% in urban areas since 2000
Britain has around 870,000 hedgehogs remaining — down from around 36 million in the 1950s
Rural declines are linked to agricultural intensification: loss of hedgerows, increased pesticide use, and large arable fields without cover
Urban hedgehogs benefit from garden networks but face mortality from garden strimmers, road traffic, and slug pellets
Hedgehogs hibernate from November to March — disturbance during hibernation is a major welfare risk
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde, now banned in the UK, and methiocarb remain significant hedgehog poisoning risks
The Hedgehog Street campaign coordinates garden connectivity improvements through the Big Hedgehog Map and hole-in-fence network
RSPCA treats around 35,000 hedgehogs annually — the most numerous wild mammal in RSPCA care

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog welfare harms in UK gardens and farmland are diverse and well-documented. Garden strimmers cause traumatic injuries to hedgehogs sheltering in long grass — checking before strimming saves individual animals. Slug pellets containing methiocarb poison hedgehogs directly. Road traffic kills hundreds of thousands annually. Bonfire sites kill hibernating hedgehogs when lit without checking. Cold snap exposure when emergence from hibernation is timed poorly causes hypothermia. These are all individually preventable harms that require only modest behaviour change from householders and farmers. The aggregate welfare impact of coordinated garden and farmland hedgehog-friendly behaviour change could be significant for a species in serious decline.

What You Can Do

Create a hedgehog hole (13cm x 13cm) in garden fences or walls to enable movement between gardens
Check grass for hedgehogs before using strimmers or mowers
Avoid all slug pellets — use nematodes, copper tape, or physical barriers instead
Build a hedgehog house or log pile for shelter and hibernation
Leave a shallow dish of water and cat or dog food for hedgehogs during summer droughts
Report injured hedgehogs to Hedgehog Bottom rescue centre or RSPCA
Donate to Hedgehog Street, People's Trust for Endangered Species, and local hedgehog rescue centres