Hedgehog Welfare in Urban Gardens: Pesticide Exposure and Habitat Fragmentation

The western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has declined by over 50% since the year 2000. Urban gardens are increasingly their last refuge, yet pesticide use, garden wall fragmentation, and road mortality undermine their survival even in supposedly safe environments.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have fallen from 30 million in the 1950s to fewer than 1 million today
Urban hedgehogs now show higher survival rates than rural ones due to milder temperatures and food availability
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde and methiocarb directly poison hedgehogs that eat affected slugs
Garden walls and fences prevent hedgehog roaming: they need at least 10 garden-sized territories per night
Road mortality is estimated to kill 100,000-300,000 hedgehogs per year in the UK

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs poisoned by pesticides suffer neurological symptoms including muscle tremors, incoordination, and respiratory distress before death. Fragmented gardens create stress through forced navigation around barriers, reducing foraging success and access to mates. Hedgehogs caught in netting, litter, or garden hazards face slow death by entanglement or starvation. Wildlife rescue centres treat thousands of hedgehogs annually for injuries, disease, and underweight juveniles failing to hibernate successfully. Garden-friendly practices can significantly improve welfare outcomes at a neighbourhood scale.

What You Can Do

Make a 13x13 cm hole in garden fences to allow hedgehog access across your neighbourhood
Switch to wildlife-safe slug control methods — copper tape, wool pellets, or beer traps
Provide fresh water and hedgehog-safe food such as wet cat food or hedgehog kibble
Check long grass and compost heaps before mowing or turning to avoid injuring hedgehogs
Join Hedgehog Street, the British Hedgehog Preservation Society campaign for connected gardens