Overview

• Remains of a hedgehog with burn injuries were discovered at the entrance to Ham Woods in Plymouth on July 31.
• Devon and Cornwall Police and the Devonport and West Neighbourhood Policing Team opened an investigation under crime reference 50250197745 and have deployed high-visibility patrols.
• Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 it is unlawful to harm hedgehogs in Britain.
• The British Hedgehog Preservation Society reports the rural population has declined by more than 50% since 2000 and classifies the species as vulnerable.
• The RSPCA recorded a 27% rise in social media cruelty reports from January to May 2025 and is monitoring the Online Safety Act’s impact on removing animal-abuse content.