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Found a hedgehog? Mon–Fri 10:00–12:00 / 13:00–16:00 · 056 552 16 02
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Hedgehog help in the canton of Schwyz

Have you found an injured, sick or unusual-looking hedgehog in the canton of Schwyz? Here you can find out when a hedgehog needs help, which regional contact points you can get in touch with and how you can protect its habitat.

For hedgehogs in need from the canton of Schwyz, the canton names the Natur- und Tierpark Goldau and the veterinary practice ParkVets, as well as the Igel-Hilfe Glarnerland, as authorised contact points.

As the available care places are limited and capacity can change at short notice, the admission of a hedgehog must always be arranged by telephone first.

Do not bring a hedgehog to a station without notice, and do not leave a transport box in front of a closed facility.

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A hedgehog in tall grass

Found a hedgehog – what should you do now?

Not every hedgehog needs human help. A healthy hedgehog is mainly active at dusk and at night. If you see a hedgehog during the day, this does not automatically mean that it is sick.

Action is needed in particular if the hedgehog:

  • is injured or bleeding
  • seems apathetic or does not roll up
  • staggers, walks in circles, wheezes or breathes heavily
  • is infested with flies, fly eggs or maggots
  • is noticeably thin or weak
  • lies unprotected in the sun for a long time
  • is a young hedgehog found obviously without its mother

  1. If possible, contact a hedgehog station before transporting the animal. The station can assess whether the hedgehog needs to be taken in and whether a care place is currently available.

    Hedgehog stations

  2. Until the handover, wearing gloves, you can place the hedgehog in a sufficiently high cardboard box. Line it with newspaper and a towel and put the box in a quiet place. Offer fresh water in a shallow dish. Never give the hedgehog cow’s milk and do not treat it yourself with medication or anti-parasite products.

Hedgehog stations and contact points for the canton of Schwyz

The canton of Schwyz names two authorised contact points for hedgehogs in need. One of them is located in the canton itself, the second in neighbouring Glarus.

You can find the official cantonal overview at Kanton Schwyz – Wildtiere und Igel.

  • Natur- und Tierpark Goldau

    The Natur- und Tierpark Goldau runs a wildlife rescue and care station. Sick, injured or weakened hedgehogs are only admitted after prior registration.

    For the initial medical assessment of injured or sick wild animals, the canton of Schwyz currently refers to the veterinary practice ParkVets in Goldau.

    Call ParkVets or the wildlife rescue station first. The specialists will assess whether the hedgehog should receive medical treatment, be returned to where it was found or be admitted for further care.

    In the case of a seriously injured hedgehog, the veterinary practice should preferably be contacted. The wildlife rescue station is not a drop-off point that is freely accessible at any time.

  • Igel-Hilfe Glarnerland

    The Igel-Hilfe Glarnerland is expressly named by the canton of Schwyz as an authorised care station for hedgehogs from the territory of the canton of Schwyz.

    The care station is located outside the canton. Admission must therefore always be confirmed by telephone before you set off.

    According to the canton of Schwyz, the care station, founded in 2021, has five regular care places. Additional overwintering facilities are available in Bilten.

    The small number of places shows why registering by telephone in advance is essential. Do not take a weakened hedgehog over a longer distance to Glarus without prior arrangement.

If the hedgehog station cannot be reached:

  • Kantonspolizei Schwyz – Einsatzzentrale041 819 29 29For a seriously injured wild animal on a road, after a collision or in the event of an acute traffic hazard.
  • Hedgehog Help Switzerland056 552 16 02Monday to Friday, 10:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00igelstation@igel-hilfe.ch
  • Pro Igel Helpline0800 070 080Daily from 16:00–20:00Pro Igel – Igel in Not
  • TierRettungsDienst0800 211 22224-hour emergency line
  • Police117For a seriously injured wild animal on a road, after a collision or if there is an acute danger to traffic

Emergency numbers that charge a fee may incur higher call charges. For a seriously injured hedgehog, you can also contact a veterinary practice or animal clinic. Before setting off, call to ask whether they treat hedgehogs or wild animals.

Note on this regional information page · As of: August 2026

This page brings together information and contact points on hedgehog protection in the canton of Schwyz. It is not an additional hedgehog station and not a cantonal authority.

The care stations and animal welfare organisations listed are independent institutions. Responsibilities, availability and admission capacities can change at short notice. Please therefore always make contact by telephone first.

Cantonal contact points

The veterinary office is the right cantonal authority in particular for questions of animal welfare law, reports of problematic animal keeping or questions about care stations requiring a permit.

  • Veterinärdienst der Urkantone

    The joint Veterinärdienst der Urkantone is responsible for the canton of Schwyz. In addition to Schwyz, it also serves Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden.

    The veterinary service is not a hedgehog station and does not normally take on the direct care of individual found animals. If you find an injured or sick hedgehog, you should therefore first contact ParkVets, the Goldau wildlife rescue station or the Igel-Hilfe Glarnerland.

  • Amt für Wald und Natur des Kantons Schwyz

    The Amt für Wald und Natur is responsible for the protection of native species, wildlife issues and cantonal wildlife management.

    In the case of a single injured hedgehog, one of the care or advice centres mentioned should be contacted first. The office is not a regular hedgehog drop-off point.

Report hedgehog sightings in the canton of Schwyz

Sightings can be entered via the Switzerland-wide platform Wilde Nachbarn.

  • Such reports help to:

    • to add to the known distribution of hedgehogs
    • to identify regional gaps in knowledge
    • to document potential danger spots
    • to lay the groundwork for future studies
    • observe changes over several years

  • If possible, note down:

    • the date and time
    • the exact location of the sighting
    • the condition of the hedgehog
    • any particular dangers at the site
    • if possible, a photo taken from a safe distance

A sighting report is no substitute for emergency help. If a hedgehog is injured or weakened, a specialist body must also be contacted.

The canton of Schwyz as a habitat for hedgehogs

The canton of Schwyz is characterised by lakes, valley floors, the Pre-Alps, agricultural land, villages and fast-growing settlement areas.

Hedgehogs live mainly in lower-lying, warmer and structurally rich areas. They find suitable habitats in particular in:

  • green residential neighbourhoods
  • natural private gardens
  • parks and cemeteries
  • orchards
  • native hedges
  • vegetated embankments
  • structurally diverse village edges
  • transitions between settlements and farmland

Suitable settlement areas can be found, for example, in and around Schwyz, Goldau, Arth, Brunnen, Küssnacht, Lachen, Pfäffikon, Wollerau, Einsiedeln, Altendorf, Siebnen and Freienbach.

Hedgehogs are less common at higher, steeper and cooler altitudes. However, altitude is not the only decisive factor. Small-scale structures, food supply, temperature and the connection between suitable green spaces also play an important role.

Valley floor near Steinen with village, meadows, wooded slopes and the Mythen
A hedgehog on a log

How many hedgehogs live in the canton of Schwyz?

There is currently no scientifically verified total figure for the canton of Schwyz. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, move across several properties and are not counted comprehensively.

The number of hedgehogs admitted to care stations does not allow a reliable extrapolation either. A high number of animals brought in can have various causes:

  • more injured or weakened animals
  • greater awareness of the care stations
  • a greater willingness among the public to report them
  • unfavourable weather conditions
  • late litters in autumn
  • more dangers from traffic and garden tools
  • a lack of food or places of refuge

To date, no regional study has been published for the canton of Schwyz that provides a reliable hedgehog density or population size for the entire cantonal territory.

The cantonal camera-trap monitoring does not provide a complete hedgehog count either. Wildlife cameras can document occurrences and activity patterns, but do not normally allow a comprehensive count of individual hedgehogs.

Hedgehog-friendly area right next to a road with lorries

What is known about the trend

The European hedgehog is classified as “near threatened” on the Swiss Red List. Studies from other Swiss regions show, in some cases, significant declines.

The Amt für Wald und Natur of the canton of Schwyz also names various threats that are likely contributing to the negative trend:

  • loss of suitable habitats
  • fragmentation of the landscape
  • structurally poor agricultural land
  • increasing densification of settlements
  • ever denser road traffic
  • obstacles and traps in settlement areas

However, these indications do not allow any concrete statement about how many animals the Schwyz population has declined by.

Stone blocks, branches and young shrubs as habitat next to a commercial building

Protecting habitats in the canton of Schwyz together

Hedgehog protection works across property and municipal boundaries. Private individuals, municipalities, schools, businesses as well as farms and horticultural businesses can help preserve safe routes and places of refuge.

In new developments and redesigns, not only individual green spaces but also their connection with neighbouring habitats should be taken into account.

Permeable property boundaries, unsealed surfaces, native plants and safe ways out help not only hedgehogs but also amphibians, insects, birds and other native animal species.

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We are also available by phone and are happy to help you with advice and practical support.

Whether you are looking for our hedgehog magazine full of helpful tips, information about hedgehog talks or materials for school projects – we provide everything free of charge to promote the welfare of hedgehogs.

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Expert knowledge on the care and treatment of hedgehogs

Free hedgehog courses for veterinary practice assistants throughout Switzerland

Hedgehog Help Switzerland offers free hedgehog courses for veterinary practice assistants throughout Switzerland. These courses are specially tailored to veterinary practice assistants who want to familiarise themselves with the particularities of hedgehog care and acquire professional knowledge of the medical treatment and care of hedgehogs. In veterinary practices, hedgehogs need special attention and expert care that differs from other wild animals – and this is exactly where our hedgehog courses for veterinary practice assistants come in.

In our courses you will learn everything about caring for and treating hedgehogs in a way that suits the species. We cover important topics such as correct feeding, stress management during treatment and recognising typical hedgehog diseases. Our hedgehog courses are offered both at our hedgehog station and directly at your veterinary practice – we work throughout Switzerland and adapt to your location and your schedule.

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