Wildlife

Hedgehog Welfare in Urban Gardens: 2026 Update

UK hedgehog populations have fallen by 50% since 2000, with urban garden management and road mortality driving welfare and conservation pressures.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog population estimated below 1 million in 2026
Road mortality kills an estimated 100,000+ hedgehogs annually
Slug pellet use containing metaldehyde causes secondary poisoning
Garden boundary fencing blocks connectivity essential for foraging

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehogs hit by vehicles suffer acute traumatic injury and death. Secondary poisoning from metaldehyde and rodenticides causes neurological symptoms and prolonged suffering. Hedgehogs trapped in gardens without connectivity cannot meet their territory requirements of 1-3 km nightly, leading to malnutrition and reproductive failure. Garden management choices have direct welfare consequences for individual animals.

What You Can Do

Create a 13cm gap in garden fences for hedgehog access
Eliminate slug pellet use; use wool pellets or beer traps instead
Check for hedgehogs before strimming or mowing
Register your garden with Hedgehog Street and PTES surveys