Firework Season – Consider Hedgehogs This Bonfire Night

Firework season is upon us, and whilst fireworks can be a fantastic spectacle for humans, they are often distressing for wildlife, including hedgehogs. The loud noises and bright lights can cause significant stress and disorientation.

Wood and leaf piles are also often used as materials for bonfires, but they are often the perfect hiding places for hedgehogs and other animals. The Wildlife Trust¹ notes that “sadly many hedgehogs fall foul of unchecked bonfires and are killed as a result.”

In the 1950s, it was estimated that there were around 30 million hedgehogs in the UK². Recently, hedgehogs have been added to the ‘near threatened’ red list after a 30% decline over the past decade. In 2018, The Mammal Society³ estimated the population to be around just 879,000.

Kirsty Harrop, Marketing Manager at Timloc Building Products, commented:

“Hedgehogs play an essential role in our ecosystem, and it is crucial that we make every effort to safeguard them. These animals are already facing a worrying decline, but with mindful actions and collective care, there are ways we can support and protect their population.”

Below are some helpful top tips for creating your bonfire:

1. Store bonfire materials in a secure location and relocate them to a different spot on the day you plan to light the fire.
2. Construct your bonfire on the same day you intend to light it. Leaving it assembled for a longer period of time increases the chance of hedgehogs finding it as a hiding place.
3. Always set up the bonfire on clear, open ground—never on top of leaf piles, as hedgehogs might already be hiding underneath.
4. Thoroughly inspect the entire bonfire for hedgehogs before lighting it. They often take shelter at the base or right in the center of the pile.

To ensure the safety of hedgehogs during Bonfire Night, these simple checks can have a significant impact on saving hidden wildlife and it’s also an ideal time to consider installing a hedgehog highway to provide them with safe passage and access to multiple gardens.

Highways enable hedgehogs to travel through gardens and green spaces to forage for much-needed food, water, and shelter. In just one night, hedgehogs can travel up to 2 km to find these essentials.

The Hedgehog Highway by Timloc is quick and easy to install: simply cut a 130 mm x 130 mm square hole in the bottom of the garden fence or wall, line up the highway with the hole, and secure it in place.

Not only does the Hedgehog Highway directly help hedgehogs, but with every sale of the Hedgehog Highway by Timloc, a donation is made to hedgehog charities and organizations across the UK to aid their continued work in rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing sick or injured hedgehogs.

To learn more, visit: www.hedgehoghighway.co.uk

¹The Wildlife Trust

²Hedgehog Street

³The Mammal Society