Wildlife

Wild Hedgehog Bonfire and Garden Safety

Hedgehogs habitually shelter in bonfire material and garden debris, requiring specific safety checks to prevent burning and injury.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs readily nest in bonfire material, compost heaps and leaf piles
Thousands of hedgehogs are burned or injured in bonfires annually in the UK
Checking and moving bonfires before lighting is the most effective prevention
Compost heaps with hedgehog residents can be managed carefully to avoid harm
Garden machinery including strimmers causes severe injury to hedgehogs in long grass

Welfare Considerations

Bonfire and garden machinery deaths involve extreme suffering. The preventable nature of these deaths - through simple pre-lighting checks and strimmer caution - makes public education particularly impactful. Building bonfires on the day of burning and checking with a torch before lighting prevents most deaths.

What You Can Do

Build bonfires on the day of burning rather than in advance
Check with a torch before lighting any bonfire or garden fire
Move compost heaps carefully if resident hedgehogs are suspected