Wildlife

Hedgehog Hibernation Support and Garden Welfare

Hedgehogs face multiple threats including habitat loss, road traffic and garden hazards. Supporting hedgehog welfare in gardens makes a meaningful difference to this declining species.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by an estimated 30-50% since 2000
Hedgehogs hibernate from November to March but may wake during mild spells requiring supplementary food
Garden hazards including ponds without exit ramps, netting, strimmers and bonfires cause significant mortality
Hedgehogs travel up to 2km per night requiring access through multiple gardens
Providing supplementary food of cat or dog food and water supports hedgehogs before hibernation

Welfare Considerations

Individual hedgehog suffering from garden hazards is preventable with simple modifications. Strimmer injuries causing severe wounds are entirely preventable with a visual check before use. Bonfire casualties can be prevented by moving bonfire material on the day of burning. Pond drownings are prevented by simple ramp installation. These simple actions prevent painful deaths for individual animals.

What You Can Do

Check bonfires for sheltering hedgehogs immediately before lighting by lifting and inspecting the base
Install a ramp in ponds and water features so hedgehogs can escape if they fall in
Check areas for hedgehogs before using strimmers or mowers particularly in long grass
Provide supplementary food including wet cat or dog food and fresh water particularly in autumn
Create 13cm hedgehog highway holes in fences and walls to enable movement between gardens