Wild Hedgehog Welfare and Urban Threats

Hedgehogs are declining rapidly across Europe and facing new threats in countries where they have been introduced. Understanding the welfare impacts of human activities helps drive better coexistence.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% since 2000, driven by habitat loss and road mortality
An estimated 100,000-300,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads annually
Hedgehogs caught in garden netting suffer serious injury and death from entanglement
Garden strimmers cause catastrophic injuries to hedgehogs sheltering in long grass
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde poison hedgehogs that eat affected slugs
Hedgehogs travel up to 2km per night — gardens enclosed by solid fencing prevent essential movement

Welfare Considerations

Urban and suburban hedgehogs face a gauntlet of human-created hazards. Road deaths cause traumatic injury. Garden hazards — netting, bonfires, strimmers, and ponds without escape ramps — trap and kill hedgehogs in ways that cause significant suffering. Pesticide exposure through the food chain causes sublethal poisoning and death. The cumulative impact of these threats on a declining population means each individual hedgehog matters greatly to population recovery. Simple garden modifications — hedgehog highways, pond ramps, pesticide-free gardening — collectively create safer habitats that reduce individual animal suffering.

What You Can Do

Create a 13cm hedgehog highway in your garden fence to allow free movement
Check compost heaps and bonfires for sheltering hedgehogs before disturbing them
Avoid metaldehyde slug pellets — use iron phosphate alternatives instead
Install a pond escape ramp to prevent drowning
Drive slowly at night on rural roads, especially in autumn when hedgehogs are most active