Wild Hedgehog Welfare: Supporting Urban Populations

Hedgehog populations are declining across Europe, and simple garden and urban management changes can provide meaningful welfare support.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 50% since 2000
Habitat fragmentation from fencing prevents hedgehog movement across territories
Hedgehogs need 1-2 km of foraging range nightly - garden connectivity is critical
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde poison hedgehogs directly and by secondary poisoning of prey
Ponds, bonfires, and strimming all cause significant hedgehog mortality
Providing hedgehog houses and suitable hibernation habitat supports winter survival
Supplementary feeding with dog or cat food helps underweight hedgehogs before hibernation

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog decline is a welfare crisis unfolding slowly across European gardens and farmland. Individual hedgehogs die from poisoning, drowning, strimmer injury, and bonfire immolation - preventable causes that are within human control. Population-level decline represents millions of individual welfare failures. Garden changes that are individually modest - a CD-sized hole in fences, a wildlife pond with exit ramp, switching to ferric phosphate slug pellets - collectively create connected corridors supporting hedgehog welfare and survival.

What You Can Do

Create a hedgehog hole (13x13cm) in garden fences to allow territory movement
Check bonfires for hibernating hedgehogs before lighting
Avoid metaldehyde slug pellets - use ferric phosphate pellets or copper barriers instead
Check rough grass areas before strimming and avoid cutting at night when hedgehogs are active
Provide supplementary food (meaty cat or dog food) for thin hedgehogs in autumn before hibernation