Mammals

Hedgehogs, foxes, bats, badgers and squirrels — what they need, what the law says, and when the honest answer is to leave them alone.

4 of these 5 have a Great Britain Red List assessment we could verify. We say “not assessed” rather than inventing a category — it is not the same as saying a species is doing fine.

• Not assessed

  Badger

  Meles meles

  Britain's largest land predator, and a regular garden visitor. Its sett has stronger legal protection than the animal itself.

• Not assessed

  Common pipistrelle

  Pipistrellus pipistrellus

  The bat over your garden at dusk. Its roost is protected whether or not a bat is in it — check before any roof or loft work.

• Not assessed

  Grey squirrel

  Sciurus carolinensis

  If you live-trap one, you may not lawfully let it go. The law almost nobody mentions, and what it means in practice.

• Of concern

  Hedgehog

  Erinaceus europaeus

  Vulnerable on the GB Red List. A 13cm hole in your fence does more for it than anything you can buy.

• Not assessed

  Red fox

  Vulpes vulpes

  Britain's most-complained-about garden visitor, and one of its least harmful. What it eats, and why hand-feeding is the line.