Both wildlife and pets alike face many hazards out in the big wide world. However, with the seasonal firework festivities fast approaching, it is a time for increased vigilance and awareness on our behalf to ensure their safety. If you are having your own bonfire night celebrations, PLEASE check beneath the bonfire just before you light it, to make sure there are no hedgehogs hiding underneath it. Also, please do be mindful to clear up properly after your party, including burning embers, spent fireworks and scraps of food- all of which can be potentially damaging to our native creatures.

The noise of fireworks can shock pets into running away, causing them to become disorientated, lost and frightened. It is a good idea to keep all pets indoors; bring rabbit hutches inside, and exercise dogs during the day. If you have a particularly frightened pet then leave somebody indoors to be with it, you could even put some Rescue Remedy in their drinking water for the day- this may help to keep them calm.

Generally, at this time of year, many people will be busy clearing up leaves and tidying the garden ready for the winter.

But a word of caution! Many hedgehogs have a second brood in late summer, and the babies will still be very young and dependant on mum. Piles of leaves, log stacks and compost bins are all favourite places for hedgehogs to nest, as well as in hedges and under sheds. So, please be careful when tidying up the garden. Even better, wait until the end of September when the youngsters should have left home to find a place of their own. But don’t forget that hedgehogs hibernate between November and mid March and may choose to sleep out the winter in a stack of leaves or branches in your garden.

Late hog babies can have trouble ‘over wintering’ if they haven’t had time to build up enough fat reserves. The minimum weight to see them through the winter is 500gms and any young hog below this weight is almost certain to die. If you find any very small hoglets like this, before intervening; please contact Wildlife Aid on 09061 800132 for help and advice.