Release of hedgehogs

It is generally prohibited to remove from the wild protected species like hedgehogs.

However legislation permits hedgehogs in need of help to be rescued and properly reared or nursed back to health before release back into the environment. There are local people with the expertise to do this.

This page gives information on good practice for the release of hedgehogs following rescue and care.

When it is time for release it is important to:

• Release the hedgehog back where it came from or as near by as possible if it is or can be made safe.
• Release the hedgehog in a similar environment to that where it came from - for example an area with gardens or field-edge hedgerows.
• Choose a location for release that has habitat that is good for hedgehogs - places to forage and shelter, safe for hedgehogs.
• Release the hedgehog where there are hedgehogs already - this tells us that the environment has good habitat for hedgehogs.
• Avoid areas that have active badger setts or where there are ground nesting birds.
• Only release small numbers of hedgehogs in a single location.
• Watch out for the signs of hedgehogs thriving in the area after release and equally for any signs that it has not been safe for them.

Visiting gardens for Hedgehog release