Small Mammals

Hedgehog Welfare in British Gardens

British hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% since the 1990s, and garden management practices play a critical role in their survival.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations fell from 30 million in the 1950s to under 1 million today
Hedgehogs travel up to 2 miles nightly and need connected gardens to survive
Garden netting slug pellets and bonfires are leading causes of hedgehog injury and death
A single hedgehog eats around 200 grams of insects beetles and earthworms nightly

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs face welfare risks throughout British suburbs including entanglement in garden netting, poisoning by metaldehyde slug pellets, drowning in garden ponds, and burning in bonfires. They also suffer from loss of habitat connectivity as fences prevent movement between gardens. Simple garden modifications can dramatically improve hedgehog welfare and support population recovery.

What You Can Do

Create a 13cm square hole in garden fences to allow hedgehog movement
Replace netting with rigid alternatives or raise it above hedgehog access height
Use wildlife-safe slug control alternatives to metaldehyde pellets
Check bonfires carefully for sheltering hedgehogs before lighting