Wildlife

Wild Hedgehog Predation and Garden Safety

Domestic cat and dog predation causes welfare harm to hedgehogs in gardens, while garden hazards including netting, ponds, and bonfires pose additional mortality risks.

Key Facts

Cats regularly attack hedgehogs despite hedgehog spines providing some protection
Hedgehog puncture wounds from cat attacks frequently become infected and are often fatal
Garden netting including strawberry nets and football goal netting entraps hedgehogs causing injury
Garden ponds without exit ramps drown hedgehogs that fall in overnight
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde and methiocarb poison hedgehogs as secondary consumers

Welfare Considerations

Garden hedgehogs face numerous human-created hazards causing painful deaths. Simple modifications can make gardens safer without eliminating their wildlife value.

What You Can Do

Check garden netting for trapped hedgehogs daily and use rigid netting where possible
Install ramps or rocks in garden ponds to allow hedgehog escape
Avoid metaldehyde slug pellets and use wildlife-safe alternatives
Create hedgehog highways between gardens to reduce exposure to hazards