Hedgehog Welfare and Urban Survival

Hedgehog populations have declined dramatically in the UK and Europe due to habitat loss, vehicle strikes, and garden hazards. Simple garden changes can make a significant difference.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% since 2000
Vehicle strikes are among the leading causes of hedgehog mortality in suburban areas
Garden strimmers cause serious injuries to hedgehogs hiding in long grass
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde kill hedgehogs directly and reduce their invertebrate prey
Hedgehog highways — 13cm holes in garden fences — allow movement through gardens for foraging

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs face welfare threats throughout suburban and agricultural landscapes. Vehicle mortality, garden strimmer injuries, and chemical poisoning from slug pellets cause significant individual suffering. Garden fragmentation prevents hedgehogs from ranging widely enough to find sufficient food. Simple garden management changes — hedgehog highways in fences, avoiding slug pellet use, checking for hedgehogs before strimming — can substantially reduce these harms at neighborhood scale.

What You Can Do

Install a 13cm hedgehog highway in garden fences or walls to allow movement
Never use metaldehyde slug pellets — they kill hedgehogs directly
Check for hedgehogs before using strimmers or bonfires
Leave areas of long grass and log piles as hedgehog habitat
Report hedgehog sightings to population monitoring apps to support conservation data