August 1st bonfires: Deadly trap for hedgehogs and other wild animals

For many people, a large bonfire on August 1st is an integral part of the national holiday. However, what is hardly known is that the piles of wood, often stacked days or even weeks in advance, are frequently used as shelter by hedgehogs, toads, slow worms, mice, and other wild animals. If these woodpiles are lit without supervision, it often ends in agonizing death for the animals.

Every year, countless wild animals die in the flames of August 1st bonfires – animal suffering that can be prevented with simple measures.

The Susy Utzinger Foundation for Animal Welfare (SUST) calls on organizers of bonfires and the general public to take consideration for wild animals when building and burning woodpiles.

Here's how to make the August 1st bonfire more animal-friendly:

• Pile up wood as late as possible: ideally only on the day of burning. This way, wild animals don't even have the opportunity to use the woodpile as a hiding place.
• Carefully rearrange existing woodpiles: If the wood was piled up days or weeks in advance, the entire pile should be carefully rearranged or rebuilt immediately before lighting it. This gives any hidden animals a chance to escape.
• Protective fence for large woodpiles: In the case of large woodpiles that were built early in the season, a simple fence around the woodpile prevents hedgehogs and other animals from getting in.
• Raising children's awareness: A quick look into the woodpile can save lives. Explaining to children why wild animals use the woodpile as a home also teaches them to respect nature.
• Do not attempt to retrieve animals yourself: If hedgehogs or other wild animals are discovered, do not disturb or unnecessarily handle them. Carefully dismantle the woodpile and give the animals enough time to leave on their own.

A small hiding place – with fatal consequences

Hedgehogs are crepuscular and nocturnal. During the day, they seek sheltered hiding places in piles of branches and leaves, where they feel safe. Female hedgehogs, in particular, are often looking for a suitable place to give birth to their young in the summer. A stacked woodpile offers ideal conditions for this. Since hedgehogs curl up into a ball when threatened instead of fleeing, they have little chance of escaping when a fire is lit. The same applies to baby hedgehogs, which are completely defenseless in their first few days. They are born blind and deaf and would die a miserable death in a fire.

This avoidable animal suffering can be prevented with just a few simple steps.

Taking responsibility together

“An August 1st bonfire should bring joy to people – not cost wild animals their lives,” says Susy Utzinger, Managing Director of SUST. “Anyone who only piles up a woodpile on the day of the burning or carefully rearranges it beforehand can prevent a lot of animal suffering with little effort.”