Hedgehog Garden Welfare | Animal Welfare Hub

Welfare of wild hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in urban gardens, covering population decline causes, garden hazard reduction, supplementary feeding guidance, and how garden design helps hedgehog welfare.

Key Facts

British hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 50% since the 1990s, with urban populations declining faster
Garden hazards causing hedgehog deaths include netting, strimmers, bonfires, ponds without escape ramps, and slug pellets
Hedgehog highways — gaps of 13cm in garden fences — enable the 1-2km nightly ranging hedgehogs need for food and mates
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde are toxic to hedgehogs and were banned in the UK in 2022
Supplementary feeding with wet cat food, dry hedgehog food, or mealworms (in moderation) supports hedgehog welfare
Hedgehogs are predominantly insectivorous and benefit from pesticide-free gardens providing insect abundance
Population monitoring programs using hedgehog tunnels with footprint tracking enable citizen science welfare assessment

Welfare Considerations

Garden management choices have direct welfare consequences for wild hedgehogs — habitats that were once safe can become lethal with inappropriate choices. Strimmer injuries cause horrific wounds; garden netting entangles and starves; slug pellets poison; bonfires incinerate hibernating individuals; impenetrable fencing prevents the ranging that hedgehogs need for nutritional adequacy. The inverse is equally powerful: gardens designed with hedgehog welfare in mind — linked through access holes, free of toxic pesticides, provided with supplementary food and water, and managed to support insect abundance — actively support hedgehog welfare in an increasingly hostile landscape. Urban gardens collectively represent a significant potential reservoir habitat if managed appropriately.

What You Can Do

Create hedgehog highways — 13cm gaps in garden fences — to enable hedgehog movement between gardens
Check for hedgehogs before using strimmers, mowers, and before lighting bonfires
Remove or secure garden netting at ground level to prevent entanglement
Install pond escape ramps and check for trapped hedgehogs in swimming pools and water features
Eliminate slug pellets and use hedgehog-safe alternatives for pest management
Register your garden on the Big Hedgehog Map to contribute to welfare and population monitoring