Hedgehog conservation efforts in Germany and Switzerland

Efforts to protect hedgehogs in German gardens have gained momentum through corporate awareness, local government guidance, and community engagement. Initially, the retailer toom Baumarkt highlighted the dangers robotic lawn mowers pose to hedgehogs, which may curl up and remain stationary when threatened by silent machinery. The company suggested daytime mowing, maintaining wild debris piles for shelter, and creating fence openings.

This conservation focus has expanded to include specific regional guidance. In Bavaria, the BN-Kreisgruppe Roth notes that young hedgehogs become active in September and face significant risks; experts recommend checking hedges before using brush cutters. In the Rhein-Kreis Neuss region, authorities have highlighted how heat and drought impact food availability. Dr. Swantje Schumacher recommends providing shallow bowls of fresh water and, in cases of malnutrition, offering grain-free cat food or specialized hedgehog food. Local regulations in this region also prohibit the use of robotic lawnmowers during twilight and nighttime hours.

Conservation efforts have further evolved into community-driven initiatives. In Grabs, Switzerland, workshops have encouraged families to build shelters from branches and leaves. Meanwhile, the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research is conducting its seventh nationwide citizen science campaign, ‘Deutschland sucht Igel und Maulwurf’ (Germany searches for hedgehogs and moles). Running from September 18 to 28, the initiative invites the public to report sightings to help researchers address data gaps regarding population trends and the status of the West European hedgehog.