Wildlife

Urban Hedgehog Population Welfare

Urban hedgehog populations are declining and welfare challenges include road mortality, garden hazards, chemical exposure and fragmented habitat preventing movement.

Key Facts

Urban hedgehog populations declined by approximately 30% between 2003 and 2023
Garden netting, bonfires, ponds and strimmers are significant causes of hedgehog injury
Urban hedgehogs often travel 2km or more per night requiring connected gardens
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde are toxic to hedgehogs
Hedgehog-friendly gardens with habitat links between properties significantly aid welfare

Welfare Considerations

Urban hedgehogs face a gauntlet of welfare hazards including entanglement in garden netting, pond drowning, bonfire injuries and strimmer trauma. Chemical exposure through slug pellets and other pesticides causes slow poisoning. Impermeable garden boundaries prevent movement between foraging areas, leading to localised food depletion. Habitat fragmentation means hedgehogs must cross roads more frequently, increasing collision risk.

What You Can Do

Create a 13cm gap in garden fences to allow hedgehog passage
Check bonfires for hedgehogs before lighting
Float a ramp in garden ponds to allow hedgehogs to escape
Use ferric phosphate slug pellets rather than metaldehyde products
Avoid using pesticides that reduce invertebrate prey for hedgehogs