Hedgehog in great danger, discreet emblem of endangered biodiversity

In eight years, environmental pressures have intensified, accelerating the decline of the hedgehog in Europe. However, in France, the lack of data prevents a clear vision of the situation, even though our neighbors are seeing alarming population declines.

European hedgehog: an unexpected turn of events

Until two years ago, the European hedgehog was only classified as “least concern” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, suggesting that its future was not seriously in doubt. threat. However, the latest reassessment has upended this outlook, moving it to “near threatened”. This change is explained by the review of data collected since 2016, a period during which warning signals increased.

Indeed, the pressures exerted on this animal have continued to increase. Destruction of hedges, intensive use of pesticides, artificialization of soils, increase in road collisions and global warming are seriously weakening the species. These factors combined impact not only its natural habitat, but also its essential life cycles like hibernation and reproduction.

A European crisis, a French silence

In several European countries, the observation is clear: in Germany and Belgium, the hedgehog population has fallen by 50% in recent years. The United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands report similar trends. On the other hand, France remains a special case, due to lack of precise data to assess the extent of the phenomenon. This delay hinders awareness and makes it difficult to implement appropriate policies.

Citizen initiatives, such as the participatory census launched in 2020 by France Nature Environnement, are trying to fill this gap. But in the absence of a robust national study, the conclusions remain tentative. Experts, however, agree on one point: there is no reason to believe that the French situation differs from that of its neighbors. The same environmental pressures are exerted across the continent.

The hedgehog, although common and very present in collective imaginations, now embodies an ecological emergency. Its growing vulnerability reflects the scale of the biodiversity crisis, marking a critical step for action. Concrete measures, both to restore its habitats and to limit human impacts, are essential to prevent it from becoming a truly threatened species.

Learn more about our hedgehog friends