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Prickly Heat – Hedgehogs in a Hot Spot

20th October, 2004

WHIZZ, BANG, CRACKLE! It’s time to light those fireworks again. But as you plan your bonfire night The Wildlife Trusts are calling on everyone to ensure that hedgehogs are not harmed during your bonfire day celebrations and have drawn up a set of guidelines to help.

Bonfire night provides explosive entertainment for us, but is potentially lethal for many creatures, including hedgehogs, looking to settle down for a seasonal snooze. The Trusts are encouraging all community bonfire organisers and families with back garden celebrations to include a simple hedgehog check in their routine safety procedures.

Helen Freeston, The Wildlife Trusts’ People and Wildlife Manager says:

‘Hedgehogs start preparing for hibernation in early November when temperatures regularly drop below 16 degrees. They use twigs, leaves and dry grasses to build a cosy winter nest and may move to a new site at least once during the winter months. To a sleepy hedgehog, a ready made nest such as a compost heap or a pile of timber seems ideal and a newly built bonfire will look like the perfect place to bed down.’

The guidelines call for bonfire enthusiasts to follow a few simple steps to ensure the winter nests of the UK’s only spine covered mammal don’t go up in smoke this year.

These are:

• Try and build the bonfire as close to the night as possible to reduce the chance of a hedgehog moving in.
•  Ideally make your pile of material next to the bonfire site and re-build the stack prior to lighting.
•  Before lighting, search the bonfire for hibernating creatures using a torch and rake, to gently pull back twigs or vegetation.
• Move any hedgehogs found to a ready made hedgehog box or somewhere dry and safe away from the fire.
• If possible, before bonfire night create an alternative hedgehog home by placing some hedgehog boxes in the surrounding area or raking up grass cuttings or autumn leaves into a pile a safe distance from the fire. Hopefully the hedgehogs will occupy these rather than the bonfire.

For more information about hedgehogs and other wildlife in your garden please visit your local Wildlife Trust’s website, which can be accessed via The Wildlife Trusts’ main website by clicking here.

A free colour hedgehog poster and fact sheet is also available to all young people under 16 who join the Trust’s junior branch Wildlife Watch before January 1st 2005. Further information about Wildlife Watch and how to join can be found by visiting www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

The Wildlife Trusts is a wildlife conservation organisation only. Any queries relating to animal welfare such as injured hedgehogs should be directed to your local RSPCA office. Telephone 0870 33 35 999 or visit: www.rspca.org.uk

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society can also provide further advice on caring for hedgehogs and encouraging them in the wild and in gardens: Tel: 01584 890801 or visit: www.software-technics.com/bhps

Story by Nicola Strazzullo & Amanda Solomon

More Information

Nicola Strazzullo
The Wildlife Trusts’ UK PR Officer
Tel: 01636 670082 Email: press@wildlife-trusts.cix.co.uk Mobile: 07887 754659

Amanda Solomon
Sussex Wildlife Trust
Tel: 01273 492630 Email: amandasolomon@sussexwt.org.uk

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