Global and European regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT)
EU 27 regional assessment: Near Threatened (NT)

Declines have been observed in some capacity in more than half of the countries in which this species occurs. Although survey data are lacking from other countries within this species’ range, it is likely that declines are occurring in any area where this species is under pressure from habitat change, intensive agricultural practices and other ongoing threats. Given the evidence that a reduction has approached, and in some areas exceeded the thresholds for the population decline criterion of the Red List (i.e. >30% in 10 years) across extensive parts of its distribution, this species is assessed as Near Threatened both globally and for the EU27 region. Population monitoring is needed in regions lacking abundance and trend data.

The Western European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) occurs in much of Europe, from the British Isles and the Iberian peninsula, eastwards through to Poland and north through Scandinavia, into northern Russia and the Moscow region. It is absent from southeast Europe and southern Russia. At the southern extent of its distribution, it is present on large western Mediterranean islands (Corsica, Elba, Sardinia, Sicily) and is found in Italy, Slovenia (where it is restricted to a region surrounding Nova Gorica city), and possibly into Croatia, though records are lacking (B. Kryštufek pers. comm. 2023). Records are also lacking from another border of its range in Latvia where it is now rarely observed, and may have nearly disappeared (G. Kampe pers. comm. 2022). The exact borders of this species’ range are not entirely clear, particularly in regions further east of Slovenia, Austria and Slovakia where its range would overlap with that of its congener Erinaceus roumanicus, though where survey and genetic data are lacking; presence is suspected, for example, in bordering areas of Hungary, but unconfirmed (not mapped) (S. Lund Rasmussen pers. comm. 2023). It is typically found at altitudes of up to 600 m; it can reach 1,500-2,000 m in the Alps (Lapini 1999) but tends not to occur above the tree line (Reeve 1994). It has been introduced to the Azores (first official record in 1957; Mathias et al. 1998, Witmer et al. 2004) and the Outer Hebrides (Jackson and Green 2000).

Outside of Europe, its distribution may also extend further east in Russia, where a single specimen taken from Tyumen Oblast was confirmed to be a West European Hedgehog via genetic analysis, though its exact origin is unknown (Zolotareva et al. 2020); further research and monitoring is needed to confirm the extent of this species’ native range. It has also been introduced to New Zealand (from the 19th Century; Jones et al. 2005).

The Western European Hedgehog is a widespread species that was previously considered common across most of its range. However, in recent years, evidence has pointed towards a decline in abundance in many areas, particularly in rural environments (Hubert et al. 2011; van de Poel et al. 2015, Williams et al. 2018, Wembridge et al. 2022). Scaled to a 10-year period and primarily using data gathered from long-term citizen-science programmes, estimates of national-level declines span from 16%-33%: 16% in the Netherlands (mid-range value taken from an estimate of a 25-50% decline between 1994-2018 and recalculated over 10 years; Dijkstra 2019, van Norren et al. 2020); 28% in Norway (with 35% being the upper limit from the period 2011-2021; Eldegard et al. 2021, J. van der Kooij pers. comm. 2022); 33% in Sweden (estimated from the period 2008-2020 and declines suspected since at least the 1990s; Krange 2015, Eide 2020); and 19% in Great Britain (applying the data and protocol used in the British Red List of Terrestrial Mammals to a 10-year period; Mathews and Harrow 2020). Similar declines have been observed in local-level studies when recalculated over a 10-year period, with estimates ranging from 16%-51%: 16% in Zurich, Switzerland (relative abundance estimated from occupancy surveys between 1991 and 2018; Taucher et al. 2020, Capt 2022); 35% in Fulda-Rhön Mountains, Germany (from roadkill surveys undertaken between 1991-2018; Müller 2018); and 51% in Bavaria (from roadkill surveys undertaken between 1976-95, and 2011-15; Reichholf 2015, Meinig et al. 2020). In Flanders, Belgium, an analysis of volunteer-provided roadkill data collected from transects between 2010-2018 indicated a relative decline of approximately 50% of individuals observed, though an increase was noted in 2019-2020 which researchers postulated could be related to a rise in disease, causing individuals to become more vulnerable to road traffic accidents (see Vercayie 2019, Swinnen et al. 2022, S. Ruyts pers. comm. 2022). Roadkill reductions have also been reported from the Po-Venetian plain in Italy (0.3 ind./km in 2000 to 0.06 ind./km in 2016; Canova and Balestieri 2019), and in Great Britain (2.16 ind./100 km in the period 1990-1993 to 0.69 in 2015-2018; Wembridge et al. 2022). Trends in roadkill counts have been proven to be generally reliable indicators of mammal abundance (Baker et al. 2004) including that of the West European Hedgehog (Roos et al. 2012, Bright et al. 2015).

Decline is suspected in Denmark (S. Lund Rasmussen pers. comm. 2022) and Finland (A. Rautio pers. comm. 2023), though survey data are lacking. There is also some cause for concern on the Iberian Peninsula, where scientists have observed reductions in roadkill frequency in Armada, Portugal (average counts per week declined from 1.93 ind. in 2013 to 0.46 ind. in 2018; Bom 2020), alongside distinct genetic clustering and near loss of some local, fragmented populations in Spain (Araguas et al. 2022). However, on a national scale, it has been suggested that populations are stable in Portugal (Bencatel et al. 2019, A. Garcês pers. comm. 2023) and Spain (Palomo et al. 2007). The West European Hedgehog is also reported as relatively stable and not of conservation concern in the Czech Republic (see Bolfíková and Hulva 2012), Ireland (Marnell et al. 2019) and France (UICN France et al. 2017). However, population data are lacking from such regions, and local declines may have occurred.

The Western European Hedgehog can be found in a wide range of habitats such as woodland, agricultural landscapes, orchards, parks and gardens, including in urban areas. In many regions, it is nowadays more commonly observed in urban settings than in rural areas (Hubert et al. 2011; van de Poel et al. 2015, Williams et al. 2018). There is continuing decline in the quality of rural habitat in many areas across its range. It is a solitary, nocturnal, winter-hibernating species. Throughout most of its native range, it typically hibernates between November and April, though the exact timings depend on climate, sex, body size and physical condition (Reeve 1994, Rasmussen et al. 2019). Hedgehogs are otherwise active between spring-autumn during which they may breed at any point. Litter size is typically three to six individuals (Morris 1977, Kristiansson 1981, Walhovd 1984); occasionally a female may produce two litters in one year.

The diet of the Western European Hedgehog primarily consists of invertebrates, eggs, carrion and sometimes plant material (Wroot 1984). Nests are constructed from leaf litter, grass and other natural materials as well as occasionally anthropogenic materials (Reeve and Morris 1985, Rautio et al. 2014). Nests are formed in a variety of sheltered locations, for instance, under hedgerows, scrub or log piles, or man-made structures such as garden sheds or decking (Morris 2018).

Agricultural intensification (including the removal of hedgerows, application of agricultural pesticides and increasing field sizes) and urban growth have likely led to the loss and degradation of nesting and foraging habitats for this species. In some areas, the decline of the Western European Hedgehog has been closely associated with an increase in abundance of the European Badger (Meles meles) (see Micol et al. 1994, Young et al. 2006, Williams et al. 2018, Taucher et al. 2020); the underlying mechanisms of this negative relationship are unclear but could involve direct predation, badgers creating a landscape of fear and/or outcompeting hedgehogs for food resources. Road traffic is another major risk to hedgehogs and, in Great Britain, it has been estimated that 167,000-335,000 hedgehogs are killed in wildlife-vehicle collisions annually (Wembridge et al. 2016). Hedgehogs may also be vulnerable to the use of rodenticides and other pesticides via direct consumption, or the consumption of poisoned prey (Dowding et al. 2010). In urban settings, prominent threats include injury by or disturbance from humans and domestic animals (Rasmussen et al. 2019, Berger et al. 2020) as well as habitat loss and fragmentation; there is concern, for example, that major road systems cause distinct genetic clustering (Braaker et al. 2017). Climate-induced changes to, e.g., invertebrate prey availability or hibernation timings may also have a negative impact on hedgehog populations, though this has not been studied.

The species is not known to be utilised or traded.

It is listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and occurs in a number of protected areas throughout its range. The Western European Hedgehog is included on multiple national Red Lists in accordance with IUCN regional criteria as Near Threatened (Austria, Norway, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland), Vulnerable (Great Britain), and Endangered (Netherlands). Recommended conservation actions include the prevention of habitat loss and fragmentation, and encouragement of hedgehog presence in residential areas. Investigation into the potential effectiveness of road mitigation strategies, as well as the impacts of pollutants and pesticides on hedgehog populations, is needed. This species would also benefit from further research of population trends and distribution in areas where it has been poorly studied.