Wild Animal Welfare

Wild Hedgehog Garden Connectivity

Hedgehog populations are declining across the UK and Europe - garden connectivity through simple habitat improvements directly helps individuals.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs roam up to 2 km per night foraging for invertebrates
13cm holes in garden fences enable hedgehog movement between gardens
Slug pellets (metaldehyde) are lethal to hedgehogs and banned in some countries
Compost heaps and log piles provide nesting and foraging habitat
Hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% in rural UK since 2000

Welfare Considerations

Individual hedgehogs face real welfare challenges including starvation, road mortality, and secondary poisoning. Garden-level interventions create functional habitat corridors that directly benefit wild hedgehog welfare.

What You Can Do

Make a 13cm gap in your garden fence for hedgehog access
Avoid slug pellets - use physical barriers or wildlife-safe alternatives
Provide supplementary food (wet cat food or hedgehog pellets) in autumn