November has crept around which means Guy Fawkes Night will soon be upon us. So, when planning your celebrations for 5th November, don’t just think about keeping indoor animals safe, bear in mind your garden wildlife when celebrating Bonfire Night.
With the current restrictions in place due to COVID-19, many people are planning to use their gardens for bonfires and firework displays to keep the magic of Bonfire Night alive. Charted Horticulturist, broadcaster and patron of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society David Domoney is urging Briton’s to stay safe in your garden and use these tips to look after the creatures who call your garden home.
Hedgehogs will be attracted to the wood piles you set up as your bonfire. They are woody and cosy, and a potential great place for shelter and food. But taking precautions will reduce the risk of hedgehogs being hurt. For example, when building a bonfire, it’s best to build it on the day that you are going to light it. As hedgehogs prefer to wander at night, this will save them and other creatures from settling in and keep them away from harm. Alternatively, if it needs to be built in advance, protect the area by surrounding it with chicken wire, that’s around 1 metre high, to stop hedgehogs getting in.
Before lighting, have a rummage around using a pole or broom and a torch. Choosing a pole or broom is safer than checking with a fork or spade because these tools can harm the hedgehogs if there are any hiding.
Thoroughly check it – particularly the bottom two feet of the structure, which is where hedgehogs are most likely to be found. Listen out for a hissing sound, which is the noise these spiny mammals make when they are disturbed. Finally when lighting do so from one side only to allow an escape route for anything missed.
In the event that hedgehogs are found, the nest should be placed into a plastic or cardboard box with plenty of towels or newspaper. When handling them, wearing gardening gloves is best because it will not only protect your hands from their spikes, but it’ll also save human smells from getting onto the creatures. When the hedgehogs are in a safe space, place meaty cat or dog food and water in the box with them, then once the bonfire is done and cooled off, the hedgehog can be released somewhere safe nearby like a hedge or bush.
If you are planning to release any fireworks, remember that the noise causes distress to both wild animals and your pets. So, if you don’t have the appropriate space to use them, don’t set them off in your garden.
Remember, don’t be a flaming hedgehog killer. Instead take precautions to protect wildlife and pets in your garden this Bonfire Night.
