Wild Hedgehog Urban Road Mortality and Rescue

Road mortality is a major cause of hedgehog death in urban areas, requiring both infrastructure changes and effective rescue protocols for injured animals.

Key Facts

An estimated 100,000-500,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads annually
Road casualties represent a significant proportion of total hedgehog mortality
Peak road mortality occurs in autumn when young hedgehogs disperse to find hibernation sites
Hedgehogs active during daylight hours are usually in distress and require rescue
First aid for injured hedgehogs involves warmth, hydration support and veterinary referral
Many vets and wildlife rescue centres accept hedgehogs for treatment free of charge
Road crossing hotspots can be identified through citizen science recording
Wildlife tunnels under busy roads have been successfully installed in some locations

Welfare Considerations

Road casualties cause acute suffering through traumatic injury including wheel strikes, internal haemorrhage and fractures. Hedgehogs that survive initial impact may lie injured for hours before being found. The individual welfare harm of road mortality is severe, and the scale - hundreds of thousands annually - makes it a significant welfare priority. Prompt intervention by members of the public who find injured hedgehogs and referral to rescue organisations can save animals that would otherwise die slowly. Infrastructure solutions including wildlife tunnels address the population-level problem.

What You Can Do

If you find a hedgehog out in daylight, contact your nearest hedgehog rescue immediately
For emergency first aid, place the hedgehog in a high-sided box with newspaper and a covered warm water bottle
Never give cows milk to hedgehogs - it causes diarrhoea. Water only if drinking is possible
Drive carefully in residential areas at night between September and November
Support Hedgehog Street and British Hedgehog Preservation Society rescue and rehabilitation work