Hedgehog Welfare: Garden Habitats and Road Safety

Hedgehogs have declined dramatically across Europe due to habitat loss, pesticide use, road mortality, and garden fragmentation. Simple actions can help individuals support local populations.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 50% since 2000 in rural areas and by 30% in urban areas
Hedgehogs are increasingly dependent on suburban gardens for food, shelter, and breeding sites as rural populations decline
Hedgehog highways — 13cm holes cut in garden boundaries — allow hedgehogs to roam the 1-2km they cover nightly
Road mortality, garden pond drowning, bonfires, and strimmer injuries are significant causes of hedgehog death
Hedgehogs are generalist insectivores — lawns treated with pesticides provide food but insect-depleted grass
Hedgehogs that are active during daylight hours or appear disorientated are typically sick and need immediate wildlife rescue help

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog welfare operates at the intersection of individual animal welfare and conservation — the species is now at risk of functional extinction in parts of its range. Individual welfare actions (checking bonfires before lighting, covering drains, creating a compost heap for nest sites) aggregate into meaningful population support when adopted widely. Garden connectivity through hedgehog highways is one of the most evidence-backed individual actions for supporting local populations. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society provides practical advice for garden-level hedgehog support.

What You Can Do

Cut a 13cm square hole in your fence or wall to create a hedgehog highway connecting gardens
Avoid pesticide and slug pellet use in your garden — reduce insect and slug prey for hedgehogs
Check grass before strimming, move log piles before burning, and always check bonfires before lighting
Leave a shallow dish of water and wet cat food in your garden for hedgehogs during summer dry spells
If you find a sick or injured hedgehog, contact your local wildlife rescue or the BHPS helpline immediately