Wildlife Welfare

Wildlife Welfare: Hedgehog Road Mortality and Garden Hazards

Hedgehog welfare is threatened by road mortality, garden hazards including strimmers, ponds and bonfires, and habitat loss, requiring active garden and planning interventions.

Key Facts

Road mortality is estimated to kill 100,000+ hedgehogs per year in the UK
Garden hazards including strimmers, garden netting and bonfires kill substantial numbers
Ponds without escape ramps drown hedgehogs that cannot climb out
Hedgehog-proofed fences prevent movement between gardens, fragmenting habitat
Providing hedgehog highways (13cm holes in fences) allows free movement across connected gardens

Welfare Considerations

Individual hedgehog welfare harms from garden hazards are preventable through straightforward modifications. Strimming in late afternoon when hedgehogs are less active, checking bonfires before lighting, providing pond ramps and creating hedgehog highways in fences collectively make significant contributions to local hedgehog welfare and population stability. These are among the most impactful wildlife welfare actions available to ordinary householders.

What You Can Do

Create a hedgehog highway in your fence and encourage neighbours to do the same
Install pond ramps or exits for hedgehogs that fall in
Always check bonfires for hedgehogs before lighting
Strim in the afternoon and check areas carefully before strimming