In July 2020, hedgehogs were officially included on the IUCN Red List, classified as vulnerable to extinction.

With populations of hedgehogs having declined by around 50% since 2000, preventing hedgehog fatalities on bonfire night is extremely important. Hedgehogs are nocturnal animals - bonfires, being made of natural materials, and left in open spaces, seem the ideal place for a hedgehog to sleep underneath. Too, hedgehogs tend to begin their hibernation period in November, hibernating until Spring, and bonfires appear the perfect hibernation spot. Seeing as hedgehogs are either asleep or in hibernation when bonfires are lit, it is extremely rare for hedgehogs to be able to make it out of bonfires alive.

Here are some tips for how to avoid harming hedgehogs on bonfire night:

• Build bonfires on the day of lighting - as hedgehogs are nocturnal animals, building the bonfire in the morning of the day you are lighting it, will decrease the chances of hedgehogs crawling underneath it
• Place a barrier at the bottom of bonfires - chicken wire, old tyres, bricks etc can all be used to make a wall around the bottom of bonfires to stop hedgehogs being able to climb underneath them. Hedgehogs are good climbers - make sure barriers are at least one metre tall, and, if using wire, place at an outward angle to make it harder to climb.
• Move bonfires before lighting - if possible, relocating the bonfire, even by a few metres can help to see if there are hedgehogs hiding underneath. It’s important to dismantle piles of logs before constructing a bonfire too. Bonfires should be located a safe distance away from pampas grass, fern etc. or any areas of habitat that could easily catch fire and cause harm to animals sheltering in these areas.
• Check bonfires before lighting - hedgehogs tend to sleep in the bottom two feet of bonfires. Use a broom handle to gently lift up the bottom of bonfires section by section, all the way to the centre of the bonfire, and shine a torch inside to look out for hedgehogs. Listen carefully for movement, or a hissing sound - which is the noise they make when disturbed.

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What to do if you find a hedgehog?

Have a high sided box, with towels or newspaper inside, and a lid with air holes ready before checking bonfires. Wearing, gardening gloves, to prevent distressing them with human scent, pick the hedgehog up carefully, place carefully in the box, and place the lid on top. Provide water and meaty cat or dog food in the box, and place the box somewhere quiet and safe, such as a shed or garage. When the bonfire has been safely put out, the hedgehog can be released that night, so it can return to the same habitat.

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How to help if you are going to a local bonfire display?

If you’re going to a local display, you can still help protect hedgehogs! Contact the organisers of the bonfire event you are going to, sharing the above precautions. This may be messaging creators of event posts on Facebook, contacting local council or emailing event organisers. The more people that contact the organisers reminding them to take the necessary precautions, the more likely they are to take the correct measures.

Hedgehog Friendly Campus initiative