Wildlife experts are urging households to avoid this popular Halloween decoration – it poses a hidden danger to birds
It may seem harmless, but this stringy decoration can act as a trap for small birds and other wildlife
There are several key considerations when caring for wildlife during autumn, and Halloween decorations are an often-forgotten one.
While many charming Halloween decorations are harmless enough, popular stretchy faux cobwebs are being called out by wildlife experts as a potential danger to birds and other smaller wildlife.
The stringy faux webs are a perfect trap for winged creatures looking for food and shelter in shrubbery or trees. And thanks to the stretchy material, it's almost impossible for small animals to free themselves once they're stuck. An outcome nobody wants.
"Fake spider webs are a particularly concerning danger, as birds and bats can become easily entangled," say the Ecology experts at Arbtech."The struggle to escape can lead to injury or death from exhaustion, broken bones, or strangulation."
It's not just the cobwebs that can pose a threat to wildlife; if you're working to protect hedgehogs this season, you might also want to be careful where you're placing your pumpkins. "Pumpkins also cause a range of issues for common garden visitors like hedgehogs if eaten, such as severe diarrhoea, dehydration, and even death."
"With hibernation season just around the corner after Halloween, hedgehogs cannot afford to lose any weight through illness if they are to survive the winter," they add.
There's also another way you could be accidentally upsetting wildlife in your garden during the spooky season and beyond.
Halloween-themed or not, the exterior lighting trends you've chosen for your garden can scare off hedgehogs and other small garden visitors.
"Unnatural flashing lights can even confuse wildlife and disorient them from their surroundings, making them more vulnerable to predators and less likely to locate their food sources," say Arbtech experts.
Instead, opt for warmer-toned lights, nothing that flashes and keep them away from any entry points hedgehogs or other critters might use to pass through your outdoor space.
If you're especially keen on attracting birds to your garden, you'll want to stay well clear of this messy, damaging decoration. Watching bird populations decrease is the horror film we want to avoid this Halloween.
Also, if you have carved some spooky pumpkins this Halloween, don't throw them out; there are plenty of ways to use leftover pumpkin in your garden.
