Hedgehog populations in the UK have declined by a third since 2000. Urban gardens can be important refuges, but they also contain hazards that cause significant hedgehog injury and death.
Urban gardens can be sanctuaries or death traps for hedgehogs depending on how they are managed. Hedgehogs shelter in long grass, compost heaps, and bonfire piles — all of which pose injury and death risks from garden machinery and bonfires that are lit without checking. Garden ponds without exit ramps drown hedgehogs that fall in while foraging at night. Netting left at ground level entangles legs and restricts blood flow, causing prolonged suffering. Metaldehyde slug pellets cause hedgehog poisoning through direct ingestion and through eating poisoned slugs. Many of these hazards are easily addressed through simple management changes that benefit hedgehogs without significant cost or effort. Garden-friendly hedgehog welfare is an accessible, high-impact action for anyone with outdoor space.