Hedgehogs have declined by over 50% in the UK since the 1990s. Urban and garden environments pose specific hazards, while also providing important refuge. Understanding how to help hedgehogs is increasingly important.
Hedgehog welfare in urban environments is threatened by a range of anthropogenic hazards. Garden netting causes entanglement injuries as hedgehogs become trapped and struggle, causing lacerations and sometimes death from exposure. Strimmer and lawnmower injuries are severe - hedgehogs curl defensively rather than fleeing. Bonfire building and lighting can kill hedgehogs sheltering in the material. Metaldehyde slug pellets cause significant welfare harm through secondary poisoning - hedgehogs that consume affected slugs develop muscle tremors, salivation and seizures. Pond edges without exit ramps drown hedgehogs that fall in. These hazards are largely preventable through garden management changes that cost nothing and also benefit many other species.