Wild Animal Welfare

Urban Wild Hedgehog Welfare: Gardens, Roads, and Population Decline

European hedgehog populations have declined by 50% in the UK since 2000, with urban and suburban habitats now serving as important refuges requiring active human support.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have fallen from 30 million in the 1950s to fewer than 1 million today
Garden fencing and solid boundaries prevent hedgehog foraging movements of 1-2 km per night
Road traffic kills an estimated 100,000+ hedgehogs annually in the UK
Garden pesticide use reduces invertebrate prey availability and can directly poison hedgehogs
Hedgehog highways — 13cm gaps in garden fences — allow free movement between connected gardens

Welfare Considerations

Urban hedgehog welfare is directly affected by the decisions of millions of garden owners. Connecting gardens through hedgehog highways, reducing or eliminating pesticide use, providing supplementary feeding during dry periods, and checking for hedgehogs before strimming or bonfire lighting collectively make urban habitats dramatically more hedgehog-friendly. Traffic speed reduction on suburban roads provides meaningful protection during peak hedgehog activity.

What You Can Do

Create a 13cm hedgehog highway gap in your garden fence and register it at hedgehogstreet.org
Stop using pesticides and slug pellets — choose physical barriers and natural pest control instead
Provide a shallow dish of fresh water and meaty cat food for hedgehog supplementary feeding
Check long grass and bonfires for hedgehogs before disturbing with tools or lighting