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Hedgehog help in the canton of Solothurn

Have you found an injured, sick or unusual-looking hedgehog in the canton of Solothurn? The most important regional contact point is located right in the canton: the Niedergösgen hedgehog station is run by the Hedgehog Help Switzerland association. There, trained wildlife carers and dedicated volunteers look after injured, sick, weakened and orphaned hedgehogs.

On this page you will find the contact details of the Niedergösgen hedgehog station, further emergency numbers and information on how you can protect hedgehogs in Solothurn gardens, residential areas and municipalities.

In the canton of Solothurn, the hedgehog now lives mainly in structurally rich settlement areas, gardens, parks and on green settlement edges. There it finds food, hiding places and suitable sites for its nests. At the same time, it is severely affected by traffic routes, sealed surfaces, impassable fences, pesticides and robotic lawnmowers operated at night.

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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 in the canton of Solothurn

Please never bring a hedgehog to a station without notice. Admission places and care capacities are limited and can change at short notice.

  • Niedergösgen hedgehog station – our association’s own station

    The Niedergösgen hedgehog station is the official rescue and care station of the Hedgehog Help Switzerland association. It is therefore the central contact point of Hedgehog Help Switzerland in the canton of Solothurn.

    At the modern station, injured, sick, weakened and orphaned hedgehogs receive expert care. After their recovery, the animals are prepared for their return to a suitable natural habitat.

    The station works with trained wildlife carers, veterinary expertise and dedicated volunteers. A media report from 2025 gives an insight into the care of around 400 emergencies per year. This figure describes the station’s work and must not be equated with the number of wild hedgehogs in the canton.

    Important: There is no hedgehog drop-off hatch. Therefore, never leave a hedgehog in front of the station without notice. Always call first and discuss the next steps with the station team. The official contact and opening hours are published by Hedgehog Help Switzerland.

Further regional contact point

According to the currently publicly available directories, the Niedergösgen hedgehog station is the clearly designated hedgehog station within the canton of Solothurn. In the neighbouring cantons there are further stations, some of which also advise on or admit found animals from Solothurn.

  • Igelhilfe Mittelland in Dürrenäsch AG

    According to its own information, the independent Igelhilfe Mittelland serves in particular the regions of Aargau, Solothurn and Bern. It is located outside the canton of Solothurn.

    Here too, please check by telephone before setting off whether admission is possible.

If the hedgehog station cannot be reached:

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 Solothurn. It is not an independent cantonal authority or a legally separate section.

The Niedergösgen hedgehog station is run directly by the Hedgehog Help Switzerland association. The other organisations and emergency services listed operate independently. Admission conditions, availability and capacities can change at any time.

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 des Kantons Solothurn

    The veterinary service is responsible for enforcing animal welfare law and for matters relating to animal health, animal welfare and the keeping of wild animals. However, it is not a hedgehog station and does not normally take on the direct care of individual found animals.

    If you find an injured or weakened hedgehog, contact the Niedergösgen hedgehog station or a hedgehog emergency advice service first.

  • Wildlife accidents and game supervision

    In the event of a wildlife accident or problems with larger wild animals, the cantonal police must be notified in the canton of Solothurn. They will call out the responsible game wardens.

    For a hedgehog in need, on the other hand, a hedgehog station, the animal rescue service or a veterinary practice is primarily responsible. The cantonal rules on game supervision are described on the official website of the canton of Solothurn.

    • Police emergency number: 117

  • Amt für Raumplanung – Natur und Landschaft

    The Amt für Raumplanung is responsible for general questions about promoting near-natural habitats, ecological connectivity and nature in settlement areas.

Hedgehog sightings in the canton of Solothurn

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

  • 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.

Why the canton of Solothurn is challenging for hedgehogs

The canton of Solothurn covers very different landscapes: the Jura heights, the southern foot of the Jura, densely populated valleys, the Aare valley and intensively used areas of the Swiss Plateau.

Particularly between Grenchen, Solothurn, Olten and the Gäu, residential areas, commercial zones, agricultural land, railway lines and busy roads meet. This creates numerous obstacles and dangers for hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs can cover several kilometres on their nightly forays. They therefore need not just individual near-natural gardens, but interconnected habitats. Walls, close-meshed fences, kerbs, steps and sealed surfaces can interrupt their routes.

The cantonal Strategie Natur und Landschaft 2030+ explicitly names ecological connectivity and the promotion of nature in settlement areas as priorities.

Sunflower field with hedges and trees at the southern foot of the Jura near Solothurn, with the Weissenstein chain behind
A hedgehog among stones

How many hedgehogs live in the canton of Solothurn?

There is currently no official or scientifically verified figure for the entire canton of Solothurn. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, move over larger areas and are not systematically recorded individually. Sighting reports show where hedgehogs occur, but do not allow a reliable calculation of the total population.

Since 2019, the Wilde Nachbarn Solothurn project has been collecting sightings from the public. These reports help to make the distribution of wild animals in Solothurn’s settlement areas visible. They do not replace a complete population count. Sightings can be entered on the platform Wilde Nachbarn Solothurn.

Since 2022, the hedgehog has been on the Swiss Red List and is considered “near threatened”. In 2026 it was also chosen as Animal of the Year. Particularly problematic are the loss of structurally rich green spaces, the fragmentation of its habitats and dangers in gardens and from road traffic. Wilde Nachbarn Solothurn explains the current situation in detail.

The around 400 emergencies cared for each year by the Niedergösgen hedgehog station are not a cantonal population figure either. The animals may come from a larger catchment area, and many free-living hedgehogs are never reported to a station.

Newly created biodiversity area with deadwood and shrubs next to a commercial building

Protecting habitats in the canton of Solothurn together

Private individuals, schools, municipalities, businesses, farms and horticultural businesses can help make the canton of Solothurn safer for hedgehogs. What matters is not just individual near-natural gardens, but a coherent network of permeable and structurally rich green spaces.

Hedgehog Help Switzerland provides information material, organises further training and shares knowledge about the protection, care and proper handling of hedgehogs. With its own Niedergösgen hedgehog station, the association also has a direct, professional contact point for hedgehogs in need in the canton of Solothurn.

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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.

Registration form for hedgehog courses

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Help make the canton of Solothurn safer and more liveable for hedgehogs! Become part of our hedgehog community and contribute to the protection of these fascinating animals.

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