The hedgehog – animal of the year 2024

The European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was chosen as the animal of the year 2024 – and for good reason. It is widespread throughout Germany, but its living conditions have deteriorated dramatically in recent decades. Hedgehogs used to live primarily in open, diverse cultural landscapes with hedges, meadows, and field margins. Today, they find hardly any refuge in intensively farmed agricultural landscapes and enclosed, fenced gardens. Therefore, they are increasingly found in residential areas – in gardens and parks. But even there, life is becoming increasingly difficult for these spiky insectivores.
Tidy and well-maintained gardens offer few hiding places. Fences, curbs, and steps block their path. Gravel gardens and sterile green spaces provide neither food nor shelter. Heavy traffic and speeding at night further endanger the lives of these small mammals.

Just 100 years ago, the German landscape was rich in the habitats that hedgehogs need to survive. With the intensification of agriculture, hedges and meadows disappeared, and the population of the European hedgehog declined sharply. Studies show that the number of hedgehogs is also steadily decreasing in populated areas. Reasons for this include: the fragmentation and sealing of their habitats, the loss of hedges as breeding and retreat sites, and a lack of food in monotonous gardens and parks.

Especially around the Baldeneysee In Essen, we can all do a lot for hedgehogs together. Absolutely every garden, every green space counts! With simple measures, we can create a hedgehog-friendly habitat that offers the animals shelter and food. And road users – especially drivers of trucks and cars – also have a role to play: simply take your foot off the gas in the evenings, at night, and in the early morning.

A garden that welcomes hedgehogs is characterized first and foremost by its natural design: "wild" corners with leaves, piles of brushwood, and hedges offer the little creatures hiding places. So-called hedgehog houses or simple stacks of wood serve as shelters and safe quarters. Insect-rich meadows and native plants ensure a diverse food supply. In fact, even the dreaded slugs are on the hedgehog's menu. Permeable fences that don't reach the ground, or small openings, allow the animals to move around freely. Avoiding pesticides ensures a reliable food source for hedgehogs. Last but not least, it should be noted that hedgehogs are nocturnal animals. Therefore, it is absolutely essential – also to protect other wildlife – that robotic lawnmowers pause at night.

The German Wildlife Foundation offers the opportunity to register your garden as hedgehog-friendly. This creates a network of sanctuaries for hedgehogs. More information and the registration form are available directly on the foundation's website: German Wildlife Foundation – Hedgehog-Friendly Garden.

The hedgehog is not only the animal of the year 2024, but also a symbol of the loss of biodiversity in our cultural landscape. Around the Baldeneysee, in the Ruhr area, and throughout Germany, we can take action. With a hedgehog-friendly garden, we create safe habitats and contribute to preserving, and ideally even increasing, the population of the European hedgehog.