Wildlife

Wild Animal Welfare and Hedgehog Road Safety 2026

Hedgehog road mortality is a leading welfare and conservation concern, with 2026 bringing new measures to reduce deaths on UK roads.

Key Facts

An estimated 100,000-350,000 hedgehogs are killed on UK roads annually
Hedgehogs travel up to 2 km per night foraging, frequently crossing roads
Hedgehog crossing signs reduce road speeds near known crossing areas
Wildlife-sensitive road design including culverts enables safe crossing
Community projects mapping hedgehog road crossing hotspots target interventions effectively

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog road mortality causes significant individual suffering and population decline. Speed reduction and crossing infrastructure are achievable interventions that save lives.

What You Can Do

Participate in hedgehog population surveys to identify road crossing hotspots
Advocate for hedgehog crossing infrastructure near known road casualties
Drive slowly at night in rural areas during hedgehog active season