Wildlife Welfare

Wild Hedgehog Road Mortality Mitigation

Road mortality is one of the primary causes of hedgehog death in the UK, with significant welfare implications for individuals and populations.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 50% since 2000, with road mortality a major factor
Hedgehogs are particularly vulnerable as they curl up in response to threat rather than fleeing
Wildlife tunnels and fencing can redirect hedgehog movement away from dangerous road crossings
Speed reduction in known hedgehog hotspot areas reduces collision risk
Garden connectivity through hedgehog holes allows safer movement between territories

Welfare Considerations

Individual hedgehogs hit by vehicles experience severe traumatic injury, often dying slowly after collision. The welfare dimension of road mortality complements conservation concerns. Simple, proven interventions including wildlife tunnels, appropriate road signage in known crossing areas, and garden connectivity can meaningfully reduce both the welfare and conservation impact of roads on hedgehog populations.

What You Can Do

Make a hedgehog hole in garden fences to improve connectivity and reduce road crossing pressure
Support local campaigns for wildlife crossing infrastructure in hedgehog hotspot areas
Record and report hedgehog road casualties to citizen science projects monitoring populations