Western Hedgehog Listed as "Potentially Endangered" Internationally; Decline Affects Bavarian Gardens

The western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has been officially listed as "potentially endangered" on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This classification highlights that species decline is not confined to remote ecosystems but is also impacting European gardens. According to the Bavarian Nature Conservation Association (LBV), hedgehog populations have decreased in over half of the countries where they reside, including Germany and specifically Bavaria.

The LBV attributes the decline to various factors prevalent in human-dominated landscapes. These include the impact of insect loss, habitat fragmentation due to development, the use of pesticides, and the operation of robotic lawnmowers during twilight hours. Extreme weather conditions exacerbated by climate change, such as prolonged droughts and heavy rainfall, further endanger the species.

LBV is encouraging individuals to make their gardens more hedgehog-friendly. Providing shelter through leaf piles, brushwood, dense bushes, or rock structures can offer refuge. Garden owners are advised to avoid extensive tidying in autumn to prevent disturbing hedgehogs during hibernation. The use of lawnmowers, especially robotic ones, should be avoided at dusk and during the night when hedgehogs are active and foraging.

Furthermore, LBV emphasizes the importance of eliminating chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, and slug pellets from gardens. These substances disrupt the hedgehog's food chain and can be lethal. Creating structural diversity with flower meadows, hedges, and shrubs is beneficial. Small openings, approximately 10x10 cm, at the base of fences allow hedgehogs to move between gardens, expanding their territory and access to food sources.

For the past ten years, LBV has been collecting data on hedgehog sightings in Bavaria and urges citizens to report their observations online. This data is crucial for monitoring the hedgehog's survival in a changing landscape and is also contributing to a nationwide reporting project.