Wildlife Welfare

Wild Hedgehog Road Mortality Prevention

Road mortality is a major cause of hedgehog death in the UK, with targeted infrastructure and driver awareness campaigns offering welfare solutions.

Key Facts

An estimated 100,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads annually
Road mortality is highest in spring during dispersal and summer during peak activity
Hedgehogs freeze when threatened by vehicle headlights rather than running
Wildlife underpasses under roads enable safe crossing where hedgehog corridors are known
Reflective road markers alert drivers to hedgehog crossing areas

Welfare Considerations

Road mortality causes acute traumatic death or severe injury for hedgehogs that cannot evade vehicles. Infrastructure solutions at known crossing points combined with driver education about hedgehog behaviour reduce this major cause of preventable individual suffering.

What You Can Do

Drive slowly on rural roads at dusk and dawn when hedgehogs are most active
Report hedgehog road mortality hotspots to your local authority for signage assessment
Support campaigns for wildlife underpasses on roads through hedgehog habitat