France Hedgehog Map: Where Hedgehogs Still Thrive

For many people, hedgehogs represent unspoilt gardens and mild summer evenings. A major new study in France now reveals how their populations are actually faring – and which areas offer the best chance of seeing this nocturnal insect-eater in the wild. The findings also underline the pressure these animals face from traffic, farming and garden machinery.

How France is mapping its hedgehogs

The new map grew out of a three-year research project initiated by the environmental organisation France Nature Environnement. Its purpose was to investigate the gradual decline in hedgehog numbers, which has been apparent across many European countries for years.

Researchers needed an approach capable of gathering information from as many habitats as possible, from farming villages to densely built-up suburbs. Conventional field counts alone could not have achieved this. Instead, members of the public were invited to collect the data themselves.

"Three years of participatory monitoring have made it possible to create a detailed hedgehog map of France, based on thousands of sightings and footprint records."

The scheme began in the Doubs department in eastern France. It was subsequently extended step by step across the country and was eventually taken up at European level. This created one of Europe’s largest hedgehog-monitoring projects.

How “Opération Hérisson” works

At the centre of the study is “Opération Hérisson”, a public participation initiative that allows private individuals to gather evidence of hedgehogs in their local area using very simple equipment.

Garden tunnel systems rather than high-tech equipment

One of the project’s most commonly used tools is the hedgehog tunnel. These are narrow, elongated boxes with an entrance at each end. Sheets of paper coated with non-toxic paint or ink are placed in the middle.

• When a hedgehog walks through the tunnel, it leaves clearly visible paw prints.
• The tunnels are used in private gardens, on school grounds and in community gardens.
• Participants photograph the tracks and submit them online.
• Direct reports of animals, whether alive or dead, are also recorded.

Over three years, this has produced a dense network of data points and a remarkably realistic picture: where are hedgehogs still busily moving about at night, and where have they long since disappeared?

Strong participation across France

More than 11,000 people have taken part in the initiative so far. In 2023 alone, it received more than 6,700 valid observations from across mainland France. Records range from urban backyards in Paris to the high plateaux of Auvergne.

"More than 11,000 volunteers and thousands of reports from across France demonstrate how deeply people care about the fate of hedgehogs."

This level of participation makes the map considerably more robust than older estimates. Gaps remain, however: some sparsely populated areas have very few reports, which may indicate either low hedgehog numbers or simply a lack of observers.

Hedgehog hotspots: where they still have good prospects in France

Analysis of the reports presents a nuanced picture. Several regions stand out for their particularly high number of hedgehog records, effectively making them France’s current hedgehog strongholds.

The map therefore clearly demonstrates that hedgehogs do not live only in idyllic rural landscapes. Even heavily populated metropolitan areas such as Île-de-France can still provide refuges, provided parks, allotments and green corridors are not entirely sealed over or maintained in a clinically tidy condition.

Why hedgehogs are under pressure

At the same time, the study shows that hedgehogs are becoming noticeably rarer in many areas. Specialists identify several causes, some of which compound one another.

Traffic, farming and garden maintenance

Hedgehogs have long been among the typical victims of road traffic on French and German roads. Wider roads, faster speeds and heavier traffic leave the animals little chance of moving safely between habitats.

In rural areas, intensive agriculture is reshaping their habitat: large, uniform fields are replacing smaller-scale land parcels, while hedgerows and insects are becoming scarcer. Pesticides further reduce the available food supply.

Private gardens also have an impact. Robotic mowers, fast lawnmowers and brushcutters repeatedly cause serious injuries or kill the animals. Fully enclosed fences cut off their routes. Where every area is kept short and tidy, hedgehogs lose daytime cover and safe places to hibernate.

"Traffic, monocultures and sterile gardens together mean that hedgehogs can no longer find safe habitat in many places."

How members of the public can take part

“Opération Hérisson” is continuing. Anyone living in France, or staying there for an extended period, can easily participate and submit their own records. The chances are especially good in spring, when hedgehogs emerge from hibernation.

Tips for making your own observations

Hedgehogs are active at dusk and during the night. Most sightings occur from late evening until early morning. A few measures can substantially improve the chances of finding one:

• Walk quietly through a garden or park late in the evening and listen for rustling leaves.
• Do not shine a torch directly at the animal; point the beam slightly to one side instead.
• Avoid hastily digging through leaf piles and dense shrubs, as animals often rest there during the day.
• Reduce your speed when driving through rural areas at night, particularly on minor roads.

Anyone with their own garden can also set up a basic hedgehog tunnel. For initial trials, a cardboard box with two openings and a paper strip running through the middle is sufficient. With a little research, it is easy to mix track-safe paint or ink yourself.

Practical changes for garden owners

The French map makes one point clear: hedgehogs remain longer where gardens retain a natural character. Many of these measures can also be put into practice in German-speaking countries, often with little effort.

Checklist for a hedgehog-friendly garden

• Create corners containing leaves, dead wood and dense vegetation, and do not clear them throughout the year.
• Make small openings in fences, measuring about 13 x 13 cm, so hedgehogs can move between gardens.
• Run robotic mowers only during daylight hours and switch them off before dusk.
• Protect open cellar shafts, pools and light wells with grilles or escape ramps.
• Do not use slug pellets containing substances that are toxic to hedgehogs.

These changes benefit more than hedgehogs. Other garden wildlife, including lizards, amphibians and songbirds, also gains from them.

What the map means for Germany and Austria

Although this map covers France alone, it offers useful indications for neighbouring countries. Hedgehogs in Germany, Austria and Switzerland have lifestyles that differ very little from those of their French counterparts.

Simplified agricultural landscapes, growing traffic levels and perfectly clipped gardens are found everywhere. At the same time, the French data show that a dense network of public observations can provide a remarkably clear overview of distribution. Local nature organisations in German-speaking countries could establish comparable projects or expand initiatives that already exist.

Why participatory research has such potential

A key term in this context is “Citizen Science”. It refers to research projects in which non-specialists actively gather data. For hedgehogs, this approach brings several advantages:

• Researchers receive far more observations than teams could ever collect on their own.
• People develop a stronger connection with wildlife and habitats on their doorstep.
• Data sets spanning several years can reveal trends, such as declines after dry summers.
• Policymakers and public authorities can use these maps to plan conservation measures more precisely.

Citizen Science projects naturally also face challenges: reports must be checked, mistakes identified and bias from especially active areas taken into account. Nevertheless, France’s hedgehog map illustrates how much can be achieved with relatively simple methods when enough people get involved.

Anyone hearing a quiet rustle in the bushes on a mild night in future is experiencing more than a pleasant encounter with nature. If properly recorded, every individual observation can become part of a large data set – helping to slow the decline of an animal that has been among the best-known neighbours in our gardens for generations.