Wildlife-Friendly Bonfires

It’s getting to that time of year when big piles of wood - perfect for homes for newts and other hibernating creatures - stand a good chance of being set alight. Here with a humorous look at a serious issue, Froglife’s Rebecca Neal shares some top tips on being wildlife-friendly with your bonfire.

Avoid chargrilled wildlife this bonfire season

“Roasted noot, roasted noot!, Get choor char-grilled toads‘ere! ‘edgehogs! burnt ‘edgehogs! Get ‘em while their ‘ot!"

Admit it; you were planning to make a bit of money on the side at your bonfire party by selling BBQ’d garden animals weren’t you?

 

Well, now I have given the game away you will need to convince your neighbours that you are not the cute-animal-murdering type by making it very obvious you are taking these basic steps to protect any hibernating amphibians or mammals from a fiery end:

• Set up your bonfire as close to the night you are going to burn it as possible.
• If this is not practical, move the woodpile before you set fire to it or search it really well for animals.  Check the middle of the pile furthest from potential frost. Move any animals you find somewhere out of the way.
• Create permanent hibernating areas for animals that you are not going to burn! They will promise to eat slugs for you in the spring. Look at the Froglife website here for ideas on logs piles, toad abodes, compost heaps and hibernacula.
• Alternatively, download the brilliant “Just Add Water” pamphlet here for some more ideas.

Well, I hope this advice means you enjoy a baked-animal-free bonfire night!

• You can find more wildlife-friendly gardening tips at the Froglife website here
• Why not become a Froglife Friend and help support our conservation work for reptiles and amphibians? You can sign up here.

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