Urban Hedgehog Welfare and Decline

Hedgehog populations have declined dramatically across the UK and Europe. Garden management practices, road traffic, and habitat fragmentation are the primary drivers of this welfare and conservation crisis.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by an estimated 50% since the 1990s
Road traffic is the leading cause of hedgehog mortality, with an estimated 335,000 killed annually in the UK
Garden fragmentation by solid boundary fencing prevents hedgehog movement between foraging areas
Pesticide use reduces the invertebrate prey base that hedgehogs depend on
Hedgehogs travel up to 3km per night foraging, requiring connectivity across multiple garden territories

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog decline represents both a conservation crisis and a welfare crisis for individual animals. Road-killed hedgehogs die acutely from trauma, while those who survive with injuries face slow death from starvation, dehydration, or predation. Hedgehogs that cannot move between garden habitats due to impenetrable fencing face food insecurity and may starve in fragmented territories. Rehabilitation centers treat thousands of hedgehogs annually, including casualties from garden strimmers, slug pellet poisoning, and bonfire disturbance. Individual garden-level actions — holes in fences, log piles, reduced pesticide use — collectively represent meaningful welfare and conservation benefit.

What You Can Do

Create a 13cm x 13cm "hedgehog highway" hole in your garden fence to allow passage
Provide water and supplementary hedgehog food (wet cat food, not milk or bread) especially in dry spells
Check bonfire piles carefully before lighting and delay garden strimming until hedgehogs have moved on
Reduce or eliminate slug pellet use — use wildlife-safe alternatives or physical barriers instead
Register your hedgehog highway with the Big Hedgehog Map and encourage neighbors to connect their gardens