Remember the Wildlife: A Bonfire Night Guide

As an accredited Hedgehog Friendly campus, our college community takes pride in maintaining a safe, biodiverse environment for our local wildlife. With Bonfire Night around the corner, November brings fireworks, sparklers, and cosy gatherings, but it also poses significant risks for local animals.

A woodpile constructed for a bonfire looks to us like festive fun, but to a hedgehog preparing for winter hibernation, it looks like the ultimate nesting site. Combine that with loud bangs and sudden flashes of light, and the season can quickly turn distressing for wildlife, pets and livestock alike.

Here is how we can all work together this Bonfire Night to keep our campus and surrounding neighbourhoods safe for hedgehogs, pets, and wild animals.

Protecting Wildlife: The ‘Stop, Move, Check’ Rule

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society recommends three simple steps if you are planning a bonfire:

1. STOP: Ask if you really need a bonfire: Attending an organised community display reduces the total number of fires and fireworks across the area, cutting down wildlife casualties and pollution.

2. MOVE: Build it on the day: Never stack bonfire material days in advance. If wood sits overnight, hedgehogs, frogs, and small mammals will move in. Gather your wood nearby and build the bonfire stack on the day it will be lit.

3. CHECK: Inspect before lighting. Lift sections of the stack gently with a broom handle or pole (never use forks or spades, which can injure hidden animals). Use a torch to look right into the base and centre pile. Listen closely for huffing or a hissing noise, the sound a disturbed hedgehog makes. Light the bonfire from one side only to give any undetected animals an escape route out the back.

What to do if you find a hedgehog

If you spot a hedgehog inside an unlit bonfire, put on thick gardening gloves and gently lift it out along with its nesting material. Place it in a high-sided cardboard box filled with shredded newspaper or a towel and set out a dish of water and non-fishy cat or dog food. Keep the box safely in a quiet shed or garage until the event is finished and the fire embers are completely extinguished, then release the hedgehog near thick cover.

Safe Pets: Cats, Dogs and Small Mammals

Firework season can be terrifying for domestic pets due to their sensitive hearing. Whether you have pets at home or stay in student housing near residential areas, keep these precautions in mind:

• Keep cats and dogs indoors: Walk dogs during daylight hours, if possible, before the fireworks begin. Keep cats indoors after dusk to prevent them from bolting if frightened by loud noises.
• Create a ‘Safe Haven’: Set up a cosy hideaway with blankets under a bed or inside a quiet room. Close curtains, shut windows, and play background music or TV to muffle firework sounds.
• Bring small pets inside: Rabbits, guinea pigs, and outdoor pets should be moved inside a garage or quiet room or covered with blankets while ensuring proper ventilation.

Campus Action: How You Can Help

As part of our commitment as a Hedgehog Friendly Campus:

• Clear up firework debris, once cooled firework debris and litter contain toxins and sharp edges that harm wildlife.
• Report sick or injured wildlife.
• Spread the word, share various campaigns on social channels to help spread bonfire safety tips.

Let’s keep the celebrations safe, responsible and friendly for all creatures this season!

Find out more about Animal Care course at Dearne Valley College.