Wild Hedgehog Decline and Urban Habitat

European hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% since 2000 due to habitat loss, road deaths, pesticide use, and garden management practices that eliminate their resources.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 50% since 2000, with rural declines even steeper
Road deaths kill an estimated 167,000-335,000 hedgehogs annually in the UK alone
Pesticide use reduces invertebrate prey availability and can poison hedgehogs directly
Solid garden fencing prevents hedgehog movement between gardens, fragmenting urban habitat
Hedgehogs range up to 2 miles per night in search of food, requiring connected landscape corridors
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde, now banned in the UK, were a significant cause of hedgehog poisoning
Garden practices including leaving leaf piles and log stacks provide critical hedgehog habitat

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog welfare is closely tied to landscape connectivity and food availability. Road deaths cause acute suffering, while pesticide-induced starvation and poisoning cause prolonged distress. Hedgehogs that cannot find adequate food before winter fail to accumulate sufficient fat reserves for hibernation and die during cold months. The species faces a compound threat where both urban and rural environments are becoming less hospitable simultaneously. Individual garden management choices collectively determine the survival prospects of local hedgehog populations.

What You Can Do

Cut a 13cm hole in garden fencing to allow hedgehog movement between gardens
Avoid using pesticides and slug pellets that reduce hedgehog prey and cause poisoning
Leave areas of wild vegetation, leaf piles, and log stacks as hedgehog habitat
Check for hedgehogs before using strimmers or bonfires
Put out water for hedgehogs during dry periods
Support hedgehog monitoring programs and report sightings to citizen science databases