In the countryside, the use of pesticides may reduce the availability of food for hedgehogs and a loss of field margins and hedgerows may limit the number of places where they can live. Additionally, increasing numbers of badgers may reduce hedgehog populations as the badgers predate on them.
In the cities, garden fencing can make it more difficult for hedgehogs to move around and overly managed gardens or artificial grasses make it harder for hedgehogs to find the habitat and food sources that they need. Busy roads can also lead to more fatalities as hedgehogs may try to cross when migrating.
The People's Trust for Endangered Species are doing lots of work to try to help protect hedgehogs, and you can get involved too! There is a whole heap of information on their website about how to help hedgehogs and how to survey them so we can have a more accurate idea of their numbers.
Use the links below to find out more:
🌰 Hedgehog activities
