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24 September 2014

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Hedgehogs in bonfire night peril

Hedgehogs often make their hibernation 'home' inside a bonfire
Photo: D Smith

If you're making a bonfire on November 5th, then keep an eye out for hibernating hedgehogs. Here are some tips to ensure our prickly friends remain safe and sound on bonfire night.

SEE ALSO

More nature stories

Publicise your November 5th fireworks display

WEB LINKS

Devon Wildlife Trust

The trust's advice on turning your garden into a wildlife haven

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PRICKLY FACTS

Hedgehogs are the only British mammal covered in spines.

Each hedgehog has as many as 7,000 spines covering its back and sides.

When threatened, it curls into a ball, so that the spines offer protection.

The chest and belly are covered in coarse grey-brown fur.

Hedgehogs are mostly nocturnal.

Hedgehogs avoid the coldest times of winter by hibernating, usually between November and early April.

Favourite sites for these are under timber buildings, in piles of brushwood or leaves, or in compost heaps.

Hedgehogs are the gardener's friend because they eat slugs and snails and other pests that damage plants.

Info: Wildlife Trusts.

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At this time of year, hedgehogs start to look around for a nice warm, comfy place to hibernate for the winter.

Bonfires are ideal for them - as soon as they spot one, they're in there! But this puts them in great peril on November 5th.

However, there are ways to make sure the prickly creatures are kept safe on bonfire night.

Many hedgehogs perish in November 5th bonfires

The conservation charity, the Devon Wildlife Trust, has mounted a campaign this year to encourage people to provide 'safe havens' in their gardens for hedgehogs, in order to steer them away from bonfires.

The trust's gardening expert, John Hayward, has some useful tips to help our prickly friends.

Before you build the bonfire, place some hedgehog boxes in the surrounding area, a safe distance from the fire. Hopefully the hedgehogs will occupy the boxes rather than the bonfire.
Build your bonfire as close to 5th November as possible to minimise the chance of a hedgehog moving in. When collecting material to burn in the days up to bonfire night, pile it in one place, but build the bonfire in another.
Always check the bonfire thoroughly, using a torch before it is lit. Any hedgehogs that are found should be carefully placed in nearby hedgehog boxes or in a safe dry spot away from the fire.

John said: "Hedgehogs are a vital part of our gardens, offering us a natural pest control system for the dreaded slugs, as well as being totally endearing.

"There's lots that we can all do to help hedgehogs to establish, providing winter homes and plenty of less managed areas for them to find some shelter, but many sadly do perish in bonfires so we should all be extra vigilant on 5th November."

Article published: 27th October 2004