Nationwide, hedgehogs are on the early warning list, and in Rhineland-Palatinate they are already classified as endangered. Counts in Bavaria over a period of almost 40 years show a steady decline in hedgehog populations. 

Protection status: Hedgehogs are specially protected under Section 7 (2) No. 13 c of the Federal Nature Conservation Act (BNatSchG) in conjunction with Section 1 of the Federal Species Protection Ordinance (BArtSchV). The prohibitions of § 44 (1) (BNatSchG) apply here: It is prohibited to hunt, catch, injure, or kill hedgehogs or to remove, damage, or destroy their developmental forms and nests from nature.

The term "insect decline" refers to the alarming global decline in insect populations. This phenomenon is due to the combined effects of several causes (pesticide use, intensive agriculture and forestry, climate change). Insects are the main source of food for hedgehogs. They need sufficient fat reserves for hibernation. Milk production for rearing young also depends on the amount of food consumed by female animals. If hedgehogs cannot find enough insects, they cannot adequately feed their young and will not survive the cold months.

Roads are difficult barriers for hedgehogs to overcome, significantly reducing their habitat. Only a few animals reach neighboring areas. Habitat fragmentation leads to isolated hedgehog populations. The lack of genetic exchange threatens the long-term survival of the species.

In order to save themselves the supposed hassle of gardening, many people are creating low-maintenance gardens or even gravel gardens. For hedgehogs, these gardens are hostile habitats, as the animals can find neither hiding places nor food. Other wild animals also avoid these dead spaces. Gardens that are far removed from nature, and gravel gardens in particular, therefore contribute to the loss of native biodiversity.

The use of chemical pesticides, weed killers, and fertilizers kills a large proportion of the insects that hedgehogs feed on. This means that the animals can no longer find enough food. In addition, serious health problems can arise if the animals come into contact with the chemical substances or ingest them through their food.

Contrary to manufacturers' claims, an unattended robotic lawn mower poses a great danger to hedgehogs. Robotic lawn mowers are unable to distinguish between the edge of a lawn and an animal. It has been proven that robotic lawn mowers do not recognize animals as obstacles using their cameras and ultrasonic sensors. When test animals were placed in the collision zone of the robotic lawn mowers, most of the devices did not swerve, but collided with the animals. Only then did the robotic lawn mowers change their direction of travel. Small hedgehogs (up to 200 grams) in particular were run over by robotic lawn mowers. The sharp blades of the tested devices caused cuts of varying severity to the snouts, bellies, and backs of the dead test animals. Only one model did not cause any serious cuts. 

When out walking, dogs running free are a danger to hedgehogs. Dogs can disturb sleeping hedgehogs from their nests when rummaging in undergrowth, bushes, hedges, or piles of leaves, and regard them as prey. Bite wounds from dogs are often severe, causing many hedgehogs to die. Digging up hibernating hedgehogs and destroying their nests can also be fatal for hedgehogs, as they are then exposed to the cold without protection.

There are two species of hedgehog in Germany. The well-known Western European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) is widespread throughout the country. The rare northern white-breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus roumanicus) is only found in the peripheral areas of eastern Germany.

Hedgehogs can reach a body length of up to 30 centimeters and a maximum weight of 1,500 grams. Male animals are generally heavier than females.

A characteristic feature of the hedgehog is its robust coat of spines, which can contain up to 8,000 spines. With the help of its raised spines, it can protect itself from predators. Its natural enemies include badgers, foxes, eagle owls, and martens.

Hedgehogs feed mainly on invertebrates such as insects. Snails, earthworms, and spiders also serve as food for hedgehogs. Earwigs are a delicacy for them. 

Hedgehogs are crepuscular and nocturnal. They lead a solitary life. Although hedgehogs have a fixed territory, they do not display territorial behavior and avoid other hedgehogs. Hedgehogs only seek each other out during the mating season (between May and August).

If you want to provide a shelter for hedgehogs in your own garden, you can create a pile of branches and leaves. This serves as a natural shelter for hedgehogs. A suitable location for a pile of branches and leaves is in a quiet corner of the garden that is in the shade. You will need branches and leaves to create the pile. When creating the pile, make sure that it is not too compact, but has hollow spaces that hedgehogs can enter and find shelter in. Pure leaf piles quickly stick together to form an impenetrable mass. You can create hollow spaces by adding branches and, ideally, building a hollow space in the middle of the pile with stacked wood or large stones. Finally, you can cover the leaf pile with twigs to prevent the leaves from being blown away by the wind.

Important: Once you have built a pile of branches and leaves, please do not remove it until spring, from March/April onwards, when temperatures have risen to around 15 degrees Celsius. Only then do hedgehogs end their hibernation and leave their winter quarters.

Instead of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides, you can garden organically. Plant companion plants that protect each other from pests, such as nettles and tomatoes. Plant infusions made from vegetables, shrubs, and herbs are helpful against annoying pests and also excellent as fertilizers.

If you want to fence off your property, you should install the fence in such a way that hedgehogs can crawl underneath it. You can also plant shrubs and hedges as an alternative to fencing. Another alternative is a Benjes hedge. You can create a Benjes hedge from tree and shrub cuttings. It provides a habitat for many animals and plants. If you want to protect your fruit bushes with nets, you should not choose nets that are too large. The nets should be stretched taut and installed so that they hang well above the ground (40 centimeters) to prevent hedgehogs from getting caught in the mesh. 

Hedgehogs avoid brightly lit areas in gardens in the evening because their sensitive eyes are dazzled by the light. To help hedgehogs during their nighttime hunt, you should avoid using permanent lighting in your garden.

If hedgehogs fall into steep pits or shafts, they cannot get out without help. Garden ponds can also pose a danger to these animals if the banks are too steep and high. In such situations, you can help hedgehogs by placing exit aids. Boards are suitable for this purpose. However, you can also fill the edges of ponds and pits with soil so that the animals can climb out.

During the warm summer months, natural water sources such as puddles are short-lived. You can help hedgehogs during prolonged heat waves by placing shallow bowls of water in a shady spot.

Feeding wild hedgehogs is highly controversial.

There are concerns that feeding hedgehogs in the fall disrupts their normal life cycle and may prevent them from hibernating. There are also fears that regular feeding will prevent hedgehogs from maintaining a healthy body weight, as they will adapt to the simplified food supply and no longer hunt independently. However, this has not yet been confirmed.

One argument in favor of feeding wild hedgehogs is the decline in native insects, which are their main source of food. It has been proven that insect populations have declined by up to 70 percent in recent years. This means that not only hedgehogs, but also other animal groups, such as birds, lack the insects they need to survive. However, feeding them substitute food always carries the risk of malnutrition and should only be done in exceptional cases. Whether the increasing infestation of hedgehogs with endoparasites (e.g., sucking worms) is due to insufficient insect food remains to be clarified. However, a hedgehog-friendly environment with a wild corner in your garden offers the best support for hedgehogs. This allows them to maintain their natural behavior and rely on insects as a food source. 

The following guidelines should be observed when feeding wild hedgehogs: 

• Feeding should only be done occasionally and for a limited period of time when there are no more food animals available and it is really cold (late fall).

• Please make sure you provide suitable food. Hedgehogs are insectivores, not omnivores.

You can find out what hedgehogs are allowed to eat here:

• Cat food with a high meat content (over 60 percent) without additives (sugar, grains, vegetables, potatoes);

• Soft-boiled eggs, hard-boiled eggs, peeled eggs;

• Cooked minced meat (except pork!), cooked, unseasoned chicken legs, chicken necks, chicken giblets, domestic crickets, fresh or frozen grasshoppers (every few days, not daily!).

What hedgehogs should not eat:

• They do not eat fruit. They will eat windfall fruit occasionally, as they are interested in the worms inside.

• Vegetables, grains, nuts, birdseed, dairy products, food scraps, bread.

To prevent the spread of disease, you should clean the hedgehog feeding area regularly. Place newspaper under the food bowl and change it daily. Clean the food bowl daily with hot water and dish soap.

When autumn arrives and the days grow shorter, our native wildlife prepares for the approaching winter. Hedgehogs are welcome guests in gardens and parks, where they search for food to build up their fat reserves. Healthy, well-fed hedgehogs do not need human care to survive the winter. They find their way around their natural habitat and choose a suitable place to hibernate. Work in parks, gardens, or construction projects can destroy hedgehog nests and scare the animals. Healthy hedgehogs then look for a new place to live and are also active during the day.