Wild hedgehogs carry significant parasite burdens and are susceptible to diseases including lungworm and mange. Rehabilitation and preventive management support welfare.
Wild hedgehog disease welfare occupies a difficult space between tractable individual welfare improvement and intractable population-level disease management. Mange treatment of individual hedgehogs is effective and welfare-positive. The opportunity for intervention when animals come to gardens or are found injured allows meaningful welfare help for individuals that would otherwise suffer untreated.