Wild Hedgehog Welfare: Garden Management in the UK

UK hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% since 2000. Garden management practices significantly affect hedgehog welfare and survival.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by approximately 50% since 2000, with an estimated 1 million remaining
Garden ponds are a significant cause of hedgehog drowning - sloped exits can prevent this
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde and pesticides kill hedgehogs directly and by poisoning their food supply
Hedgehog highways - gaps in garden fences - allow essential foraging territory of 1-2 km nightly
Bonfires should be checked before lighting as hedgehogs use them as hibernation sites
Strimmer injuries are a significant cause of hedgehog death and injury in UK gardens

Welfare Considerations

Individual garden management decisions collectively determine hedgehog welfare and survival across the UK. The hedgehog's decline from a common garden visitor to a species of conservation concern has occurred within living memory. The welfare harms of drowning in steep-sided ponds, poisoning from pesticide-killed invertebrates, bonfire injuries, and strimmer injuries are all preventable. Simple measures - hedgehog highways, pond exits, pesticide reduction, and strimmer vigilance - taken by millions of garden owners would significantly improve hedgehog welfare and reverse population decline.

What You Can Do

Create a hedgehog highway (13cm gap) in your garden fence to allow free movement
Eliminate metaldehyde and other molluscicide slug pellets from your garden
Add a ramp or sloped exit to any garden pond to prevent drowning
Check bonfires and long grass before strimming or lighting