Slug pellets

In general any chemical treatment that kills slugs, snails or insects will be bad for hedgehogs and should be avoided.

Slug pellets containing metaldehyde were banned in the UK in 2022. It is now illegal to sell, supply, store or use metaldehyde products.

Most slug pellets now contain Ferric Phosphate as their active ingredient, which causes slugs to die from iron poisoning. As the iron is hard to absorb, a substance called EDTA is also added which increases the absorbency. There has been little research on this substance’s effect on wildlife, though a study on it’s effect on earthworms is concerning.

Slugs do form part of a hedgehog’s diet and any reduction in food source is damaging for hedgehogs. Slugs are also an important food source for many other animals as well.

Less hedgehog food = fewer hedgehogs.

All things considered, to be truly hedgehog-friendly you need to stop using slug pellets or pesticides.

Some alternative ideas to stop those slugs eating your prize marrows… 

Register today and start telling your neighbours why their chemicals may be harming the hedgehogs.