Wildlife Welfare

Wild Hedgehog Garden Hazards and Safety

Beyond habitat fragmentation, hedgehogs face numerous garden hazards including ponds, strimmers, and bonfires that cause preventable injury and death.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs frequently drown in steep-sided ponds and water features
Strimmer injuries are a leading cause of hedgehog admissions to wildlife hospitals
Bonfire stacks built in advance frequently shelter hibernating hedgehogs
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde poison hedgehogs that eat affected slugs
Garden netting and sports nets entangle hedgehogs causing injury and slow death

Welfare Considerations

Garden hazards cause significant preventable suffering to hedgehogs - animals whose declining populations make every individual important. Simple modifications including pond ramps, bonfire checks, and netting management can prevent many injuries and deaths. Wildlife-friendly gardening practices that protect hedgehogs have costs that are entirely within the reach of motivated garden owners.

What You Can Do

Install an exit ramp in garden ponds for hedgehogs
Check bonfires immediately before lighting for sheltering wildlife
Use wildlife-friendly slug control methods instead of pellets