Wildlife

Wild Hedgehog Road Ecology and Mitigation

Roads fragment hedgehog habitat and cause mortality, with mitigation measures proven to reduce hedgehog deaths.

Key Facts

Road mortality is a significant population pressure on hedgehog populations
Hedgehogs are active travellers crossing roads particularly during mating season
Hedgehog tunnels under roads have been trialled with promising results
Fencing combined with safe crossing points is the most effective road mitigation

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs killed or injured on roads suffer trauma and death. Road networks create barriers preventing natural movement for foraging and breeding. Community-level road mitigation and garden connectivity are practical responses.

What You Can Do

Drive carefully on rural roads at night especially in spring and autumn
Support local hedgehog crossing projects
Connect gardens by making holes in fences to create hedgehog highways