Hedgehog numbers 'plummet' in Channel Islands

Rescue centres have expressed concern after reporting the number of hedgehogs across the islands has "plummeted".

Guernsey Hedgehog Rescue Centre said it saw a "steep" decline in numbers in 2025, while Jersey Hedgehog Preservation Group (JHPG) in St Helier also reported a sharp drop.

Dawn Robin from Guernsey rescue said for the first time, the centre had had "empty hutches" and she found this "extremely worrying".

Dru Burdon from JHPG said she was "worried" about the fall and encouraged people to continue leaving food and water out for them.

Robin said the main reason for the decline was because people were "taking away" the small mammals' habitats such as replacing hedgerows with fencing.

"We've noticed the decline and they're losing habitat.

"There's a huge amount of roadkill and poisons on the ground that kills their food source or them.

"It's everywhere."

Burdon said the numbers in Jersey had "plummeted", with fewer people reporting hedgehogs to the rescue dead or alive.

"I am worried about the state of Jersey's hedgehog population," she said.

"We have also had a very quiet winter with only one admission so far in March when we had 11 last year."

She said the rescue's hedgehog year records ran from October to September and in the 2024-2025 data, only 246 hedgehogs were admitted compared to previous years where it had been about 500.

Since October 2025, Burdon said they had only admitted 100 hedgehogs.

"At this rate, our annual total will be only 200," she added.

Burdon asked people not to stop feeding hedgehogs in gardens, and leaving water for them, because that is what was "keeping them alive".

She also urged people to put a hole in their fence or gate to allow hedgehogs to "come and go" from gardens freely.

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