Keeping our spiky friends safe is important and hedgehogs mistake unlit bonfires for hiding places.
November 5 is just around the corner and we are all starting to think about our bonfire night celebrations.
If you’re planning on hosting your own bonfire bash it’s important that you are conscious of the environment and particularly small animals.
It’s the time of year that hedgehogs are thinking of going into hibernation and with them already on the British Red List for Mammals, they are vulnerable to extinction.
Bonfires that haven’t been lit look like the perfect place for hedgehogs to nestle down and think they’re safe, so it’s crucial you do all you can to avoid hurting the little guys.
We spoke to wildlife expert Sean McMenemy, Garden wildlife expert and director at Ark Wildlife, about how you can build a hedgehog-friendly bonfire as well as how you can encourage the adorable hogs to stay away from them in the first place.
Sean said: ‘Hedgehogs are a welcome sight in any garden, as they help keep control of pests like snails, slugs and other insects.
‘With their natural habitats being destroyed by urbanisation, our gardens are a crucial place of safety for hedgehogs, so it’s important that people do everything they can to protect them while celebrating Bonfire Night.’
Don’t build your bonfire in advance
While it may be great to feel organised by getting your bonfire pile started early, this can be a way to unintentionally attract hedgehogs.
Sean said: ‘Don’t build it until the same day that you will light it. The longer it’s left for, the more likely that a hedgehog will find its way into your bonfire.’
If you absolutely have to build your fire in advance Sean gave some preventative tips to keep hedgehogs out.
‘If you need to build your bonfire in advance, make sure you place chicken wire one metre high all the way around the bottom,’ he said.
‘This should be placed at an outward angle to make it more difficult for hedgehogs to climb.’
Be careful where you build your fire
Sean said: ‘If you have stored materials for your bonfire outdoors before building it, move them to a different patch of ground before you start.’
It’s autumn which means leaf piles are everywhere, which also happen to be a good hiding place for little hedgehogs.
Sean added: ‘Always place the bonfire on open ground – never on a pile of leaves as a hedgehog may be hiding underneath.’
How to check your bonfire before lighting it
Checking your bonfire before you light it is a must – for little hedgies or any other animals that may have found their way in there.
Sean said: ‘Remember that they tend to hide in the centre and bottom two feet in particular.
‘When checking, lift parts of the bonfire section by section using a pole or broom. Do not use a fork, spade or rake as this may injure a hedgehog.’
It’s getting darker earlier, so it’s not enough just to have a quick glace. You must be able to see clearly.
Sean added: ‘Use a torch to look inside the bonfire and listen for a hissing sound, as this is the noise that hedgehogs make when they are disturbed or distressed.
‘Always light your bonfire from one corner, rather than in the centre, in order to give hedgehogs a chance to escape if they need to.’
If you spot a hedgehog as you light your bonfire here’s what to do
You may think all is lost if you’ve already lit the bonfire but fear not, if you act fast you can still save a little life.
Firstly move slowly and calmly in order to not alarm the hedgehog, then wearing a pair of gardening gloves reach and pick the hedgehog up.
Place it in a high-sided cardboard box, containing plenty of newspaper and move the box to a safe location far from any bonfires and let the little guy go.
Buying or creating hedgehog highways is also a great way to protect them from bonfires and helps the hedgehog population all year round. Hedgehogs travel up to a mile every night in search of food so leaving small gaps in fences for them to move between gardens prevents them from getting trapped or having to cross dangerous roads.
Sean’s tips on how to make a hedgehog hideout:
Having a hedgehog hideout means the spikey four-legged friends are much less likely to find their way into your bonfire.
You can buy or build your own hedgehog house but make sure it’s placed somewhere sheltered and is camouflaged with leaves, compost or tree branches.
- Place a hedgehog house in your garden that’s waterproof, well ventilated and in a quiet south facing position
- Partly fill the house with handfuls of leaves, grass or hay but be careful to leave room for more materials because foraging for them is an important ritual for hedgehogs
- You can also partially bury hedgehog houses in the ground, under a log pile, or compost heap – if you do then place roofing felt or plastic sheets under the runners to reduce excess dampness
- Once the hedgehog box is in position, try to keep your distance and visits to a minimum as human smells and unnecessary disturbance may deter hedgehogs from taking up residence
- To check if an animal is using the house, place a small, light object (such as some grass) in front of the entrance to see if it gets pushed away
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