Hedgehog warnings ahead of bonfires and winter

Hedgehog populations have declined by 75% in some parts of rural England

Those celebrating bonfire night have been warned to keep a lookout for hedgehogs.

Many of the prickly mammals look to these piles of trees and logs to hibernate in over winter.

This summer has also been particularly hot, which means many hedgehogs have struggled to feed up for the winter.

The RSPCA says it has seen a 74.6% increase in the number of hedgehog admissions to its four main rescue centres between 2022 and 2024, and charities warn that 2025 could be a particularly difficult winter for this much loved animal.

Young hedgehogs born in the autumn are particularly vulnerable to bonfires

Rachel Bright, vet nurse at Folly Wildlife Rescue in Kent, said the animals "struggle with a really hot summer because their main food source is slugs and snails, so when it's really dry there's less food".

"They struggle with dehydration," she said.

She says that as we enter hibernating season, we can all make sure that we do our best to keep hedgehogs safe and well.

Recommendations from the charity include not setting up bonfires too far in advance, checking them to ensure there are no hibernating animals inside, and providing overgrown parts of the garden, linked by walkways that the hogs can use to get around.

Ms Bright said: "We are the reason that hedgehogs are declining so we have to play our part."

Data from the RSPCA on hedgehog admissions at four wildlife centres across the country shows that since 2022 there has been an increase in the number of animals being admitted.

In 2024, 2,263 hedgehogs were admitted to the rescue centres.

Mallydams Wood, Hastings, said it had seen an increase of 113% in the number of admissions between 2022 and 2023.

Despite the number of hedgehog admissions increasing, data shows that the overall hedgehog population is decreasing.

According to the National Gamebag Census, the number of hedgehogs in the South East has declined by 25% between 1994 and 2019.

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