Wild Hedgehog Urban Garden Welfare

Urban hedgehogs face a complex mix of threats and opportunities in garden environments, and how we manage our outdoor spaces has a direct impact on hedgehog welfare and survival.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 50% since the year 2000 in rural areas, with urban populations relatively stable
Hedgehogs travel up to 2km per night foraging, requiring connectivity between gardens
Garden boundary barriers - solid fences and walls - are the primary cause of hedgehog population fragmentation in urban areas
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde and methiocarb are acutely toxic to hedgehogs consuming poisoned slugs
Bonfires and strimming are among the leading causes of hedgehog injury and death in gardens
Hedgehogs hibernate from November to March and require undisturbed leaf piles or purpose-made hibernation boxes
The Hedgehog Street campaign has connected over 100,000 gardens through 13cm square holes in fences

Welfare Considerations

Urban garden management decisions directly affect hedgehog welfare at both individual and population levels. Impermeable garden boundaries isolate hedgehog populations, preventing gene flow and reducing foraging range below the threshold needed to sustain body condition through winter. Individual welfare risks include strimmer injuries (often fatal), drowning in garden ponds without exit ramps, entanglement in netting, and slug pellet poisoning. The positive welfare case for urban gardens is strong - diverse planting supporting invertebrate prey, log piles providing daytime refuge, and connected access supporting healthy foraging ranges all directly improve individual hedgehog welfare and survival.

What You Can Do

Cut a 13cm square hole in garden fences to create hedgehog highways
Stop using any slug pellets and switch to physical barriers or nematode treatments
Check bonfires for hibernating hedgehogs before lighting and always rebuild before lighting
Install a ramp in any garden pond to allow hedgehog escape
Provide supplementary food (wet cat food or hedgehog food) during drought when invertebrates are scarce
Register your garden at hedgehogstreet.org to join the connected garden network