An Oxfordshire wildlife charity has issued an appeal for those enjoying bonfires this November to take steps to protect hedgehogs hiding in wood piles.

Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has issued guidelines on looking out for the animals, which are listed as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ on the UK Red List for British Mammals.

As the weather gets colder and bonfires are built to warm us up, hedgehogs similarly find the piles of wood, twigs, and leaves ideal places to hibernate, burrowing inside to keep cosy.

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BBOWT wrote in its appeal: “It would be tragic if we were to accidentally hurt any hedgehogs by setting light to a big pile of logs in our garden where they have taken shelter.

“Follow our  steps to keep hedgehogs and other creatures safe if you decide to light a bonfire." 

Although the hedgehog population across Europe is healthy, they’re facing an alarming decline in numbers in the UK, from 1.5 million recorded in 1995 to fewer than 500,000 today, according to estimates.

The biggest threats facing the small mammals is habitat loss, pesticide use, and killings on roads.

However, hedgehogs are happy in urban gardens and thrive when given space – and occasionally food – to survive.

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BBOWT’s recommendations for protecting hedgehogs from bonfire-related disasters are as follows:

  • Build your bonfire on the day you intend to burn it, so hedgehogs don’t have time to shelter inside

  • Place the bonfire on open ground, not on a pile of leaves or foliage where hedgehogs could be hiding

  • Place chicken wire on metre high, at an outward angle, all the way round the bottom while you’re building or waiting to light it

  • If you’ve already built the bonfire, check for hogs by moving all materials to a new spot before you light it, or carefully search through the pile with a broom pole (not a spade or fork, which could hurt them) and a torch

  • Always light your bonfire starting in one corner, rather than in the centre, in order to give hiding hedgehogs a chance to escape 

  • If you find a hedgehog, pick it up wearing a pair of thick gloves such as gardening gloves, and move it to a safe location. Help them out year-round by leaving out food – like meat-based cat or dog food, cat biscuits or special hedgehog food – and water in a bowl.

If you find an injured hedgehog, contact the RSPCA (rspca.org.uk or 0300 1234 999) or Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital in Buckinghamshire (sttiggywinkles.co.uk or 01844 292292).