Hedgehogs - A car ride at dusk, a spiny animal searching for food – a wild animal's life abruptly ended. Hedgehogs usually have no chance against road traffic.

To help them, more information is needed about the locations where these nocturnal garden dwellers are most frequently killed by traffic. As part of the nationwide campaign "Germany is looking for hedgehogs and moles," the German Wildlife Foundation is specifically calling for sightings of roadkill to be reported. The campaign period is from September 19 to 29, 2025.

Hedgehogs - Whether alive or dead – every report helps

"The more sightings – even sad ones – are reported to us, the better we can understand the conditions in urban or rural areas under which hedgehogs are particularly frequently killed by road traffic," says Lea-Carina Hinrichs, conservationist at the German Wildlife Foundation. The reported data will be incorporated into a scientific study by the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, which is examining, among other things, factors that favor collisions, such as road width or proximity to green spaces. The study's leaders also hope to gain insights into whether 30 km/h zones are particularly safe because cars have a shorter braking distance, or whether the risk is particularly high there because these zones are often located near urban gardens. "Whether alive or dead – every report helps us learn more about the presence of the animals and the risks they face," says Hinrichs.

The mole is also being sought again, as the data basis for it is even more limited than for the hedgehogs. The animals are rarely seen, but their mounds of earth betray their presence. The analysis of this year's spring census revealed a total of 930 moles and 4,700 hedgehogs.

Anyone who would like to support the project can enter their observations, including the date and location, add a photo, and provide information about the find at Igelsuche.de.

"Germany Seeks Hedgehogs and Moles" is a joint project of the German Wildlife Foundation, NABU|naturgucker, the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, the German Horticultural Society 1822, the NABU Federal Association, and the Bavarian State Association for Bird and Nature Conservation (LBV). The goal is to establish long-term monitoring of the distribution and occurrence of hedgehogs and moles in Germany. The findings will allow for a future assessment of the hedgehog and mole population status. Based on this, targeted species conservation measures can be initiated.

Press contact:

Inga Olfen
Press Officer, German Wildlife Foundation
Telephone +49 40 970 78 69-13
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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