Western European hedgehogs are declining rapidly in the wild. As pets, African pygmy hedgehogs have specialized needs that are often misunderstood, creating welfare problems in captivity.
Hedgehog welfare encompasses both wild conservation and companion animal welfare. Wild UK hedgehogs face threats from road mortality, garden hazards including ponds, strimmers and bonfire piles, slug pellets causing prey loss and direct toxicity, and habitat fragmentation. Pet African pygmy hedgehogs are often housed in inadequate conditions — small cages without adequate exercise wheels, improper diets, and excessive daytime handling disrupting sleep cycles. Wobbly Hedgehog Syndrome causing progressive paralysis is common and has no effective treatment. The nocturnal nature of hedgehogs means they are often not ideal pets for people expecting daytime interaction. The hedgehog pet trade involves wild-caught individuals in some countries, raising additional welfare concerns.