Increased Risks for Hedgehogs in Saxony resulting from human activities - Multiple threats to hedgehogs found in Saxony, Germany
Struggling Hedgehog Populations in Saxony: Human Activities Pose Significant Threats
In the lush landscapes of Saxony, Germany, the population of hedgehogs has been on a steady decline for years. Despite efforts by local authorities and conservationists, these compact, spiky creatures continue to face numerous challenges.
According to the State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology (LfULG), the depletion of hedgehog populations cannot be accurately measured due to the lack of official population counts and recent surveys. However, a density of 0.5 animals per hectare, as observed in the late 1980s, is rarely seen today.
Hedgehogs favor gardens, hedgerows, shrubs, and green spaces in settlements. Yet, they are increasingly at risk due to a multitude of factors. These include traffic, environmental toxins, predators such as badgers, foxes, moles, and buzzards, and a scarcity of food sources like earthworms and snails. The ongoing drought compounds these problems, while soil sealing or the use of insecticides or slug bait has significantly reduced the small, natural habitats that offer refuge.
Though the European hedgehog is currently listed as "least concern" in Saxony's 2015 Red List and in the pre-warning area at the federal level, the World Conservation Union IUCN anticipates it could be classified as "potentially vulnerable" from 2024, citing declines of 30 percent or more. LfULG spokesperson suggests the need for an update.
The situation in Leipzig, Saxony's district, is particularly stark. According to Sven Moehring of NABU Saxony, the population has fallen by approximately 80 percent since 1994, with many hedgehogs falling victim to vehicles and garden machinery near settlements. In close proximity to residential areas, these defenseless creatures frequently go unnoticed during gardening, and fences and curbs create additional obstacles.
Karina Goerner from Igelhilfe Radebeul reports a grim situation, with many awakened hibernating hedgehogs battling parasites, age, injuries inflicted by lawn mowers or digging tools, and bite wounds. Since January, over 200 hedgehogs have been handed over, several of which were underweight. Goerner advises that if a daytime sunbathing hedgehog is encountered, immediate action should be taken to secure it, as this could be a warning sign.
NABU advocates for a ban on traditional lawnmowers, promoting meadows mowed only two or three times yearly, and advocating for disorder in gardens and property to help the tiny creatures. The organization also encourages municipalities to curtail nighttime lawnmower activities, which they argue could save countless hedgehogs' lives. Leipzig and Cologne have already set a precedent for this, which Moehring urges other cities to follow.
In Leipzig alone, approximately 400 hedgehogs were injured, and roughly 35 to 40 were killed by garden machines in 2024. Since injured hedgehogs often hide and go undetected or become a meal for predators, the city estimates a significantly higher unreported death rate. Dresden has already implemented a ban on devices moving through gardens at night to minimize risks for these resourceful, but vulnerable, mammals. Quills may offer some protection against predators, but they offer little defense against silent, swift-moving robotic lawnmowers.
Hedgehogs thrive in herbaceous vegetation on shrubs and hedges made from native shrubs and perennials, compost, leaf, and twig piles, wild corners, diverse meadows, and thorny bushes like wild roses and hawthorn. Owners of gardens and properties are advised to leave leaf, twig, and compost piles undisturbed from May to August, "soften" barriers such as ponds, light shades, or walls with gaps at the bottom, and avoid using pesticides.
- Saxony
- Hedgehogs
- Nature Conservation
- Germany
- Leipzig
- Environment
- Erz Mountains
- 1980s
- In the face of the declining hedgehog population in Saxony, Germany, it is crucial to emphasize the importance of environmental-science and lifestyle changes to conserve these creatures, such as refraining from using insecticides or slug bait, and promoting the growth of home-and-garden habitats suited for hedgehogs, like herbaceous vegetation, compost piles, and wild corners.
- As the EC countries consider vocational training programs, it might be beneficial to incorporate modules on environmental-science and wildlife conservation, particularly focusing on the needs and habitats of endangered species like hedgehogs, within the curricula of horticulture, agriculture, and landscaping industries in Saxony and other regions of Germany, to better equip the future workforce with the necessary skills to protect and support nature conservation efforts.
