Wildlife Welfare

Wild Hedgehog Road Safety and Infrastructure

Road traffic is the leading cause of hedgehog mortality in the UK, with infrastructure solutions reducing individual welfare costs.

Key Facts

An estimated 100,000-300,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads annually
Hedgehogs are most at risk from May to October when juveniles disperse
Wildlife tunnels under roads at known crossing points reduce mortality
Road verge management affects hedgehog crossing risk and habitat quality
Bright road lighting may deter hedgehog road crossing at some sites

Welfare Considerations

Road mortality causes acute traumatic death and injury in enormous numbers of hedgehogs each year. Infrastructure solutions including wildlife tunnels at crossing hotspots, combined with community awareness campaigns about driving carefully near hedgehog habitat, reduce individual welfare impacts. These interventions are particularly important for a species already under significant population pressure.

What You Can Do

Drive slowly near hedgehog habitat especially at night from May to October
Support local campaigns for wildlife crossings at known hedgehog road crossing sites
Report hedgehog sightings and road casualties to Hedgehog Street monitoring