Steve Parker

So many otherwise trusted sites are posting deadly misinformation about bonfires, and hedgehogs who may be nesting under them. PLEASE BE CLEAR: ❌Poking a broom or stick under the bonfire will do nothing - even if you actually hit the hiding hedgehog and hurt her, she will NOT run. Hedgehogs DO NOT have the flight or fight reflex that humans and other animals have. Their response to threat and danger, and even pain, is to curl into a ball and stay put, and wait for the danger to pass. ❌A hiding hedgehog will NOT hiss, or make any sound at all! They are a prey animal, you are a predator - they will NOT alert a predator to their presence, they will stay silent. ❌Lighting the bonfire from one side will NOT WORK. Their response to danger is to STAY PUT AND CURL INTO A PROTECTIVE BALL. They won't come running out. As the heat comes closer and the smoke fills her lungs, a hiding hedgehog will just curl tighter. Whoever wrote these 'tips' does not understand the nature of a hedgehog. THEY DO NOT RUN FROM DANGER. Broadcasting this total nonsense is spreading a false sense of security and is potentially extremely harmful. The only safe bonfire is one that is built or moved ON THE DAY IT IS LIT. Moving a bonfire takes less time than you'd think. There are lots of late-born baby hedgehogs around right now, who would see a bonfire as a safe place to nest. Regrets won't turn back the clock. The 'If only' will haunt you for a lifetime. If you have to have a bonfire, please make sure you do it right.

If you are starting to build your bonfire for next week, please remember NOT to build it on the spot where it will be lit. You’ll need to move it the day you light it, or fence off the building area NOW, to prevent wildlife deaths. A hedgehog who has made it as a nest won’t move if you poke her with a broom, light the bonfire from one side, shine a torch under, or any of the other myths that you have read from well meaning sites. They’ll just stay in a frightened ball and be burnt to death.

The real horror of Halloween. Artificial cobweb: a bit of fake fun for you, but a very real and terrifying death for them. If you see your neighbours using it, it's possible they don't know the danger so please print out this simple leaflet and pop it through their door: tinyurl.com/HalloweenHedgeho… The fine, strong synthetic fibres of this lethal 'web' are difficult for animals to see at dusk and can quickly wrap around their legs, wings, and neck, trapping and killing birds, insects and mammals. When Eden the hedgehog struggled to free herself the web tightened, cutting off circulation and causing deep wounds. Can you imagine the pain and sheer terror? And then seeing dawn approach, while hanging there, tightly bound and helpless, only an inch above the ground but suffering slow strangulation. Aside from being stressed, dehydrated, starving and exhausted, she also had horrific bite/peck wounds to her face, where she had been held there, helpless, unable to curl and defend herself, while a predator tried to eat her alive. Tragically her constriction injuries were too severe to survive, and poor Eden had to be put to sleep. If you have used this deadly cruel trap to 'decorate' your garden, I beg you - take it down now. Please spread this vital information, and help save lives.

Halloween artificial cobweb material: It may be a bit of fake fun for you, but it's a very real and terrifying death for them. And it's not only birds. Last year I had my first call of the season of a hedgehog trapped in this horrific fake 'cobweb', made especially for gullible halloweeners to spread over their greenery, trapping all unsuspecting birds, insects and mammals, including hedgehogs. The fine synthetic fibers are difficult for animals to see and can quickly wrap around their legs, spines, and neck, leading to severe injuries. When a hedgehog struggles to free herself the web tightens, cutting off circulation and causing deep wounds. These constriction injuries often lead to permanent damage or death. Unfortunately the call was from Manchester, so all I could do was talk them through getting the poor creature to a rescue. Clearly she had been trapped there for at least one night, and her struggles had pulled the strong nylon strands so tightly that one of her toes had been amputated. Can you imagine the pain and the sheer terror? And then seeing dawn approach, while hanging there, tightly bound and helpless. Aside from being stressed, dehydrated, starving and exhausted to the point of near death, she also had horrific bite/peck wounds to her face, where she had been held there, helpless, unable to curl and defend herself, while a predator tried to eat her alive. If you have used this deadly cruel trap to 'decorate' your garden, please take it down now. Please don't be conned by the greedy makers and sellers of this rubbish into hurting defenceless animals.