Hedgehog Habitat Connectivity and Garden Welfare

Hedgehogs are declining rapidly in the UK, and garden habitat connectivity through fencing gaps enables the nightly movements of up to 2 km that hedgehogs require for foraging and breeding.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 50% since 2000 in both urban and rural areas
Hedgehogs are insectivores requiring access to invertebrate-rich grassland, leaf litter, and compost heaps for foraging
They range up to 2 km per night and require access to multiple gardens to meet their nutritional needs
A 13 cm square gap in garden fencing allows hedgehog passage and connects otherwise isolated garden habitats
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde and methiocarb kill hedgehogs directly; iron phosphate pellets are safer

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog welfare is directly linked to garden habitat connectivity and invertebrate food availability. Gardens surrounded by solid fencing create isolated food patches that cannot sustain hedgehog nutrition — animals confined to a single garden lose weight and reproductive success suffers. A simple 13 cm passage hole connecting gardens dramatically expands foraging range and social access. Pesticide use that reduces earthworm and beetle populations removes the food base hedgehogs depend on. Creating connected, invertebrate-rich garden habitats represents one of the most accessible individual actions for improving wild mammal welfare at landscape scale.

What You Can Do

Create a 13 cm square hole in your garden fencing to allow hedgehog access and connectivity
Register the gap on the Big Hedgehog Map to contribute to connectivity mapping
Avoid slug pellets containing metaldehyde or methiocarb; use iron phosphate alternatives if needed
Provide supplementary food including wet cat or dog food during summer drought when natural prey is scarce