Wildlife

Wild Hedgehog Garden Safety

UK hedgehog populations have declined by over 50 percent since 2000, with garden hazards contributing to individual suffering and population decline.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs face hazards from garden netting, ponds, bonfires, and strimmers
Netting entanglement causes leg injuries and slow death if undetected
Over 100,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads each year
Garden connectivity through hedgehog highways allows access to larger foraging ranges
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde are toxic to hedgehogs though methiocarb has been banned

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs suffer painful and prolonged deaths from entanglement, drowning, and strimmer injuries. Simple garden modifications can dramatically reduce these risks.

What You Can Do

Install hedgehog highways by cutting 13cm holes in garden boundaries
Check bonfires before lighting and check under strimmers before use
Provide shallow pond exit ramps and remove loose netting at ground level