UK hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 50% since 2000. Understanding the drivers of decline and effective recovery strategies is essential for both conservation and individual hedgehog welfare.
Hedgehog population decline represents both a conservation crisis and a welfare concern at scale. Each hedgehog that starves due to invertebrate scarcity from pesticide use, or is killed on a fragmented road network, or cannot survive winter due to inadequate autumn foraging opportunities, represents an individual welfare failure multiplied across a declining population. Recovery programs that restore habitat, reduce road mortality, and support garden connectivity serve individual hedgehog welfare alongside population conservation. The accessibility of hedgehog conservation - achievable in ordinary gardens through simple actions - makes this one of the most participatory wildlife welfare opportunities available.