Wildlife Hedgehog Rehabilitation: Best Practices

How wildlife rehabilitators support hedgehog recovery and how members of the public can help without causing harm.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by 50% since 2000, making rehabilitation more important than ever
Hoglets found alone in daylight hours are usually in trouble and need intervention
A healthy juvenile hedgehog should weigh at least 600g before hibernation to survive the winter
Bread, milk, and mealworms — common offerings from members of the public — are harmful to hedgehogs
Wildlife rehabilitation centres care for thousands of hedgehogs annually, returning many to the wild

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog rehabilitation sits at the intersection of wildlife conservation and individual animal welfare. A hedgehog in rehabilitation has typically suffered significant harm — injury from garden machinery, poisoning, or the physiological stress of underweight entering hibernation — and requires specialised care to recover. The welfare during rehabilitation depends on appropriate housing, nutrition, and minimal stress from human contact. The public can play a vital role by knowing when to intervene, how to stabilise a casualty without causing further harm, and how to support local rehabilitation centres through volunteering and donation.

What You Can Do

Contact your local wildlife hospital or hedgehog rescue if you find a hedgehog out in daylight
If you need to pick up a hedgehog, use gloves and keep handling to a minimum to reduce stress
Provide a wildlife-friendly garden with log piles, pond access, and gaps in fences for hedgehog movement
Leave out hedgehog-appropriate food (cat food, not bread or milk) to support underweight individuals in autumn
Donate to or volunteer with local hedgehog rehabilitation centres