With Halloween just behind us please remember to bring your pumpkin inside once the festivities have concluded.

Over recent years we have seen an increase in social media posts encouraging people to feed wildlife with left over pumpkins. Whilst, of course, they are left with the best of intentions, such actions pose a very real threat to some wildlife. Any food item that is not part of a natural diet has the potential to cause harm in a variety of ways, however, more specifically pumpkins are extremely problematic for the already threatened hedgehog.

Hedgehogs have to lay down considerable fat deposits to survive hibernation and unfortunately pumpkin acts as a laxative which results in a loss of condition. A loss of condition at this time of the year is extremely unlikely to be reversed, especially in hoglets, often leading to death during hibernation.

If you have left over pumpkins you might what to consider offering them to a local animal rescue centre or alternatively leave them in a high location in your garden for birds and squirrels to enjoy for a few days, though remember to remove them before they begin to rot!