Monday, November 05, 2007
Comment protéger les hérissons des feux et des feux d'artifices
The question
How can we help hedgehogs on bonfire night?
* Terry Nutkins
* The Guardian
* Monday November 5 2007
A hedgehog
At this time of year, many animals want to go into hibernation - hedgehogs but also creatures such as slow worms and grass snakes. Sheltered from the wind and the rain, they crawl into warm and dry piles of wood. The unlit bonfire is an oasis for many animals in the winter but when all those firework night bonfires are lit on November 5, they are suddenly burned to death.
Most communities start building their bonfires many weeks ahead. It would be much better to pile them up at the last minute. It is incredibly tempting to begin piling wood up early but if it can be stored somewhere and moved into place on the day this could save many animal's lives.
If a bonfire has been sitting in the same spot for days, organisers worried about killing hedgehogs - as well as smaller animals such as frogs and toads which have hopped and crawled in - could assemble a group of volunteers and simply move all the wood 20m away. It wouldn't take long and it would give the animals a chance to escape.
You should also consider the siting of your bonfire to minimise the risk to wildlife - place it in open ground well away from indigenous trees, which can get burned or scorched by the heat.
Fireworks are another problem altogether although they mostly affect dogs, cats and livestock such as cattle and sheep. Keeping pets indoors is essential and if you leave the television on, or play some music, that can help muffle the cracks and bangs.
My kids are going to the village firework display but I'll stay in with my black labrador, Sloopy. She shakes and goes into a terrible state when she hears any kind of bang. I'll comfort her and stroke her and make sure she feels secure.
If it was up to me I would ban fireworks and big bonfires.
How can we help hedgehogs on bonfire night?
* Terry Nutkins
* The Guardian
* Monday November 5 2007
A hedgehog
At this time of year, many animals want to go into hibernation - hedgehogs but also creatures such as slow worms and grass snakes. Sheltered from the wind and the rain, they crawl into warm and dry piles of wood. The unlit bonfire is an oasis for many animals in the winter but when all those firework night bonfires are lit on November 5, they are suddenly burned to death.
Most communities start building their bonfires many weeks ahead. It would be much better to pile them up at the last minute. It is incredibly tempting to begin piling wood up early but if it can be stored somewhere and moved into place on the day this could save many animal's lives.
If a bonfire has been sitting in the same spot for days, organisers worried about killing hedgehogs - as well as smaller animals such as frogs and toads which have hopped and crawled in - could assemble a group of volunteers and simply move all the wood 20m away. It wouldn't take long and it would give the animals a chance to escape.
You should also consider the siting of your bonfire to minimise the risk to wildlife - place it in open ground well away from indigenous trees, which can get burned or scorched by the heat.
Fireworks are another problem altogether although they mostly affect dogs, cats and livestock such as cattle and sheep. Keeping pets indoors is essential and if you leave the television on, or play some music, that can help muffle the cracks and bangs.
My kids are going to the village firework display but I'll stay in with my black labrador, Sloopy. She shakes and goes into a terrible state when she hears any kind of bang. I'll comfort her and stroke her and make sure she feels secure.
If it was up to me I would ban fireworks and big bonfires.
# posted by jaredcow @ 2:17 AM 
