Human activities pose various risks for hedgehogs in Saxony - Numerous risks for hedgehogs in Saxony originating from human activities
In Saxony, Germany, the declining population of hedgehogs is a pressing issue, with authorities and conservationists observing a long-term decrease. The State Office for Environment, Agriculture, and Geology (LfULG) notes that while hedgehogs can be found across the region, from the lowlands to the Ore Mountains, the population density of 0.5 animals per hectare, seen in the late 1980s, is now rare.
The LfULG attributes the decline primarily to human activities. Hedgehogs prefer gardens, hedges, bushes, and green spaces in settlements. However, these areas are becoming increasingly dangerous due to traffic, environmental toxins, predators such as badgers, foxes, and eagles, a lack of food like earthworms or snails, and the effects of drought years. Urbanization and the use of insecticides or slug bait have reduced the small, natural habitats that provide crucial retreats.
Although the European hedgehog is listed as "least concern" in Saxony's 2015 Red List and in the "near threatened" category at the federal level, the World Conservation Union IUCN projects it will be classified as "near threatened" from 2024, citing declines of 30 percent or more. The LfULG acknowledges the need for an update.
In the Leipzig district, the hedgehog population has decreased by approximately 80 percent since 1994. Sven Möhring from the Nature Conservation Association of Saxony (Nabu) reports that many hedgehogs are run over near settlements. They are often overlooked during gardening, and low fences and curbs present obstacles, making gardens hazardous for hedgehogs with their abundance of stones, gravel, and manicured golf greens.
Karin Goerner from Igelhilfe Radebeul describes a critical situation, with many hedgehogs presenting with parasites, age-related health issues, injuries from lawn trimmers or gardening tools, or bite wounds. Over 200 hedgehogs have been admitted since the beginning of the year, some underweight. If you find a hedgehog lying in the sun during the day, Goerner advises intervening to secure it, as this could be a sign of distress.
The LfULG recommends garden and property owners leave undisturbed leaf, twig, and compost piles from May to August, soften barriers to provide ground-level passages, and avoid using pesticides. Nabu suggests a meadow that is only mowed two or three times a year, creating 'disorder' in the garden to aid hedgehogs, and stopping nightly excursions of lawn mowers to save hedgehog lives. Cities like Leipzig and Cologne are leading the way, and Möhring believes their strategies could serve as models for Germany.
The Enrichment Data highlights the main challenges faced by hedgehogs in Saxony: habitat loss and fragmentation, reduced food supply, threats from lawn equipment, road traffic, and other human-related hazards. The proposed conservation measures include habitat protection and restoration, garden-friendly practices, safe mowing practices, creating wildlife corridors, and public awareness campaigns. By addressing these issues, efforts aim to stabilize and eventually increase local hedgehog populations.
Vocational training opportunities in EC countries could provide future gardening and home-and-garden professionals with knowledge about creating and maintaining hedgehog-friendly gardens, thereby contributing to the conservation efforts for this declining population in Germany. A lifestyle that prioritizes sustainable gardening practices and reducing the use of harmful insecticides can create a safer environment for hedgehogs and other wildlife.
