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Thread: Wildlife and Bonfires

  1. #1
    Featured Member zivlet's Avatar
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    Default Wildlife and Bonfires

    A post more relevant to those in the UK, but worth a read for everyone anyway
    Wildlife and Bonfires

    Nobody has spoken much about bonfire night on here yet so far as I have noted, but in connection to some organisations I support I just wanted to put a friendly reminder on here, for hedgehog safety and preservation.

    The British Hedgehog Preservation Society notes a 25% (that percentage may be even larger now) decline in hedgehog numbers in just ten years. Science predicts that they could be extinct by 2025.

    These animals are useful to us as well as essential to the current British wildlife order. This, along with my personal sentiment (I love them and have been involved with their care and preservation for quite a while now) causes me to promote their cause on forums and other places I visit.

    If you are having a bonfire, please take the time to take some simple actions to ensure that no hedgehogs are to burn to death because they have sought safety in an attractive pile of twigs/wood.An unlit bonfire looks attractive to many animals, including hedgehogs and as many bonfires are created over time, days or even weeks, it can come to provide an oasis for these creatures, until they are suddenly burned to death.
    Easy things to do to make sure this is unlikely include;

    [list][*]If at ALL possible, store the bonfire material elsewhere and move it to the location just before you start the fire.[*]If you absolutely CANNOT do this, surround the bonfire with material unattrative to hedgehogs, metal mesh, chicken wire, any make shift 'wall' that will stop a hedgehog seeing it as a safe place to move in.[*]Before you start the fire, take a torch and a stick or broom and search through it, overturn it, look for signs of life.[*]Light the bonfire at one side rather than all round so that any animals or bird inside have a chance to escape.[*]Move bird feeders and other food left out on the ground for wildlife away from the the bonfire site for at least a week before building a bonfire.[*]Use fireworks away from trees and woodland.[*]Detract hedgehogs. Build or obtain a 'hedgehog house'. An unwanted animal carrier, 'hutch', home-made shelter etc, some distance from the bonfire-providing space for any local hog that may otherwise be burning under a lit bonfire.[*]Have a bucket of water available in case you need to put out the fire or an animal on fire.[*]If you are going to an organised bonfire event, call beforehand to ask are they going to measures such as the above, tell them why you are concerned-if you want to, volunteer to help.
    [list]
    If you DO find a hedgehog before you light the bonfire, know who to call. This may be a local hedgehog-orientated charity or rescue, or simply somebody local who you know has animal knowledge and experience.

    Hedgehogs are aggressive creatures and do not usually object to being picked up. If you do not want to handle one, pick it up in a box and move to a safe place. Message me, or others who may be able to help, if necessary. Some may run away as soon as they are disturbed, others panic and will not.
    Thank you for doing your bit for these (and other!) animals and have fun
    I do not claim to be the oracle on this subject, even though I am a 'retired' activist, I try to still do a little bit to help.
    Sugarmouse xx
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    Default Re: Wildlife and Bonfires

    Thanks, I find it disturbing of my neighbors for using firepits irresponsibly, leaving them going all night, esp. in the dry hot summer we had

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    Default Re: Wildlife and Bonfires

    Hedgehogs. Taste like chicken! ;-) Not sure we have any wild ones in the US. Closest we have around here are ground hogs, and they're nowhere near extinct...

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