Urban Hedgehog Welfare and Garden Hazards

Urban hedgehogs face a range of garden-specific hazards that cause injury and death, while hedgehog populations have declined dramatically across the UK.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 50% since the year 2000
Urban hedgehog populations are declining less steeply than rural ones, making gardens increasingly important habitat
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde and methiocarb cause hedgehog poisoning through direct ingestion or contaminated prey
Garden netting including pea netting and football nets causes entrapment injury and death
Strimmer injuries affect hedgehogs sheltering in long grass and are a significant mortality cause
Bonfires built on the ground and left overnight are frequently occupied by sheltering hedgehogs
Hedgehog highway gaps in garden fences allow movement between gardens and are essential for population connectivity

Welfare Considerations

Urban gardens are among the most important remaining habitats for hedgehogs as rural populations decline, yet they are filled with hazards that kill and injure urban hedgehogs at significant rates. Slug pellet poisoning, strimmer injuries, bonfire mortality, and entanglement in garden netting are all preventable causes of hedgehog suffering and death. The collective impact of millions of gardens each contributing a small additional mortality risk compounds to population-level effects. Conversely, the cumulative welfare benefit of millions of gardens each reducing hazards and providing food and connectivity is also substantial. Individual garden management choices — checking bonfires, using wildlife-safe slug control, adding hedgehog highways, and avoiding netting at ground level — directly reduce hedgehog welfare harm at a scale that is meaningful at the population level.

What You Can Do

Add a hedgehog highway gap to your garden fence to allow population movement between gardens
Never use slug pellets containing metaldehyde or methiocarb — use wildlife-safe alternatives
Check bonfires and long grass with a stick before lighting or strimming
Lift garden netting at night or raise it high enough that hedgehogs cannot become entangled
Provide fresh water and supplementary food in your garden during dry summer months