Wildlife experts are urging people to check bonfires for hibernating hedgehogs before lighting them, as the animals often shelter in log and leaf piles during the colder months.
The RSPCA reported a 74.6% rise in hedgehog admissions to its four main rescue centres between 2022 and 2024, warning that 2025 could be a particularly hard winter for the struggling species.
Vet nurse Rachel Bright from Folly Wildlife Rescue said the hot summer worsened conditions for hedgehogs by drying out their main food sources — slugs and snails — and causing dehydration.
To protect them, charities recommend building bonfires only shortly before lighting, checking piles for wildlife, and leaving connected overgrown areas in gardens to help hedgehogs move safely.
“We are the reason hedgehogs are declining, so we have to play our part,” Bright said. Despite more rescues, overall numbers continue to fall, with populations in the South East down 25% between 1994 and 2019, according to the National Gamebag Census.
