Readers of BBC Gardeners’ World magazine were asked to chronicle the wildlife in their gardens, and reported that hedgehog sightings were up two percentage points.
Previous reports found that numbers of the mammals had fallen by 30%–75% across different areas of the countryside since 2000.
Poisonous pellets ingested by slugs and snails that are then eaten by hedgehogs can also kill them.
The annual survey asked respondents whether they had seen a hedgehog in their garden in 2023.
Last year, 33% of respondents reported seeing a hedgehog in their garden, up from 31% in 2022.
People have also created “hedgehog highways” of holes in fences so the creatures can wander around.
Kevin Smith, the editor of BBC Gardeners’ World magazine, said: “It’s wonderful to witness an increase in sightings. »