Wildlife experts are warning households not to place pumpkins outside their homes this week because of the danger they pose to endangered species. With Halloween falling on Friday, October 31, many families are preparing decorations, carved pumpkins, and costumes, especially for children planning to go trick or treating.
According to experts at Arbtech, pumpkins and other decorations such as fake spider webs can be deadly to animals. Pumpkins are a particular threat to hedgehogs, which are listed as endangered in the UK.
Health Risks to Hedgehogs
If eaten, pumpkins can cause severe diarrhoea, dehydration, and even death in common garden visitors like hedgehogs. With hibernation season approaching after Halloween, hedgehogs cannot afford to lose weight through illness if they are to survive the winter.
The hedgehog population in the UK has fallen from 30 million in the 1950s to an estimated one million or less today. Climate change, habitat loss, and changes in garden design have all contributed to their rapid decline.
Other Decoration Dangers
The experts described fake spider webs as a “particularly concerning danger”, as birds and bats can become easily tangled. The struggle to escape can lead to injury or death from exhaustion, broken bones, or strangulation.
Unnatural flashing lights can also confuse wildlife and disorient them from their surroundings, making them more vulnerable to predators and less likely to locate food sources.
Wildlife-Friendly Alternatives
A spokesperson for Arbtech said: “Halloween is a time for fun, and decorations may seem harmless, but it’s important to remember the potentially critical effects they have on local wildlife.
“Fake spider webs, carved pumpkins, and spooky lighting may help create an eerie atmosphere in your garden, but they create unnecessary risks for birds, hedgehogs, and other wildlife.
“That’s not to say you can’t enjoy a Halloween display, but consider looking at wildlife-friendly alternatives instead. Just a few simple swaps could save the lives of birds and hedgehogs in your garden.
“Keep potentially harmful items indoors or as part of a window display, and opt for warm-coloured LED lights instead of bright, flashing ones. This way you can still create a festive atmosphere all while keeping wildlife safe.”
