Wild Animals

Wild Hedgehog Population Decline

European hedgehog populations have declined dramatically from habitat loss, road mortality, and agricultural intensification.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by one third since 2000
Road mortality is among the leading causes of hedgehog death in suburban areas
Pesticide use reduces invertebrate prey availability significantly
Hedgehog highways connecting gardens provide essential movement corridors in urban areas

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs in declining habitats face food insecurity, entrapment in garden hazards, and road mortality that cause acute and chronic welfare compromise for individuals. The recovery of hedgehog populations requires both landscape-scale habitat improvement and individual garden-level changes.

What You Can Do

Create a hedgehog highway by making a 13x13cm hole in garden fences
Remove or modify garden hazards like netting, steep-sided ponds, and open drains
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use to support invertebrate prey populations
Record hedgehog sightings through citizen science programs to support population monitoring