They're more likely to be found in the countryside, but Paris and the Ile-de-France region are also home to many hedgehogs, those prickly but lovable little balls, a protected species that is also "almost threatened with extinction" in Western Europe. The problem is that the mammals are not adapted to city traffic and are often injured. That's why a dedicated hedgehog care center has been set up in the Bois de Vincennes, thanks to the Participatory Budget.
Christophe Najdovski, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of biodiversity and animal welfare, had announced that he was "actively workingon the creation of the first hedgehog care center in the Ile-de-France region, in conjunction with the Erinaceus France association and the Paris police prefecture", in order to treat the mammals and then release them back into the wild. The people of Vincennes helped create this unique project, and voted in a financial contribution of 15,000 euros.
All year round, volunteers from the Erinaceus France association provide information on the protection of hedgehogs, an animal that cannot be tamed. Transporting them, even to treat them, is punishable by a fine of 150,000 euros, as the mammal is a protected species. You should therefore avoid touching them, and call a vet or care center directly, who will help them before releasing them back into the wild.
The hedgehog population is very large in Paris, even if a precise count is impossible. They can be found on the Petite Ceinture and in the Bois de Vincennes. A perfect location, then, for this care center, which joins theMaisons-Alfort veterinary school in looking after them.
Paris: The City Animal House Rebrands in Honor of Jane Goodall
Because the City of Paris is committed to supporting animal welfare, the Animal House officially opened its doors on February 4, 2025. Located in Bercy Park, the center is designed for everyone interested in learning more about animals, whether they are pets or wild creatures. Following a unanimously approved motion by the Paris City Council, the Animal House was renamed the “Animal House in the City – Jane Goodall” in tribute to the renowned English primatologist and animal advocate, who passed away on October 1, 2025. [Read more]
Paris: The City Animal House Rebrands in Honor of Jane Goodall
