Common Garden Hazards: Protecting Wildlife in Your Garden
Everyday items can pose serious risks to wildlife
Gardens can provide valuable food, water and shelter for wildlife. However, everyday activities and household items can also create hidden dangers for birds, hedgehogs, small mammals, amphibians and other animals.
Many wildlife injuries are preventable. Taking a few extra moments to check your surroundings before gardening, lighting a bonfire or using chemicals can make a significant difference.
At CapesWildlifeRescue, we encourage everyone to take simple precautions to make outdoor spaces safer for wildlife.
1. Garden netting and mesh
Loose garden netting is a common cause of wildlife entanglement.
Hedgehogs can become caught in fruit cages, vegetable netting, football nets and other mesh materials. Birds may also become trapped in loose netting or string.
Entanglement can cause deep wounds, restricted circulation, fractures and severe distress.
How to prevent injuries:
Keep netting securely fastened and raised above ground level where appropriate.
Check netting regularly for trapped wildlife.
Roll away football and badminton nets when not in use.
Remove broken or discarded mesh.
Consider wildlife-friendly alternatives to loose netting.
Never assume an animal will be able to free itself.
2. Bonfires and garden waste
Bonfire piles can provide shelter for hedgehogs and other wildlife, especially during autumn and winter.
An animal hiding beneath branches, leaves or garden waste may be killed if the pile is lit.
How to prevent injuries:
Build bonfires immediately before lighting.
Move the entire pile carefully to a new location immediately before lighting, checking thoroughly as you do so.
Use a torch to inspect beneath and around the pile.
Never light a bonfire if wildlife is present.
Check garden waste carefully before moving or burning it.
If you discover an animal in a bonfire pile, do not light it. Seek advice if you are unsure how to move the animal safely.
3. Lawn mowers, strimmers and hedge trimmers
Hedgehogs may shelter in long grass, beneath hedges or among dense vegetation. Birds and other animals may also have nests in shrubs and garden borders.
Garden machinery can cause devastating cuts, amputations and other injuries.
How to prevent injuries:
Check long grass and vegetation before cutting.
Inspect beneath hedges and around garden boundaries.
Look for nests before trimming shrubs.
Work carefully around dense ground cover.
Avoid disturbing suspected nesting sites.
Never assume an area is free of wildlife simply because you cannot see an animal.
4. Ponds, swimming pools and water butts
Water features can provide valuable habitats, but they can also become dangerous if animals cannot escape.
Hedgehogs and other small mammals may fall into ponds or containers and drown if they cannot climb out. Birds and other animals may also become trapped in steep-sided structures.
How to prevent injuries:
Provide a gently sloping pond edge or a securely fitted escape ramp.
Ensure ramps are stable and provide enough grip.
Cover water butts securely.
Keep lids on tanks and other water containers.
Check swimming pools and other water features regularly.
Even a small container can pose a risk if an animal becomes trapped.
5. Drains, gullies and holes
Uncovered drains, inspection chambers, gullies, trenches and garden holes can trap wildlife.
An animal that falls into a deep or smooth-sided opening may be unable to escape.
How to prevent injuries:
Keep drain covers and inspection chamber lids secure.
Cover open gullies when not in use.
Check holes and trenches before leaving a work area.
Provide safe escape routes from unavoidable temporary excavations where appropriate.
Inspect openings before filling them in.
If an animal is trapped, do not put yourself at risk trying to reach it. Contact a suitable wildlife rescue or specialist for advice.
6. Pesticides, slug pellets and garden chemicals
Pesticides, insecticides, slug pellets, weedkillers and fertilisers can harm wildlife through direct exposure or contamination of food and water.
Hedgehogs depend heavily on invertebrates, while many birds rely on insects to feed their chicks. Reducing insect populations can also reduce the natural food available to wildlife.
How to prevent harm:
Avoid unnecessary pesticides and insecticides.
Use wildlife-friendly methods to manage garden pests.
Store chemicals securely and follow product instructions.
Prevent chemicals from entering ponds, drains and watercourses.
Never leave poisoned bait or contaminated food accessible to wildlife.
If you suspect an animal has been exposed to a chemical, seek veterinary or wildlife rescue advice promptly. Do not attempt to wash or treat a contaminated animal without professional guidance.
7. Rodent poison and bait stations
Rodenticides can pose risks to wildlife through accidental access to bait or, depending on the substance, secondary exposure after eating poisoned prey.
How to prevent harm:
Consider non-poison alternatives where suitable.
Seek professional advice about risks to non-target wildlife.
Secure all bait and follow product instructions.
Never leave loose bait or poisoned rodents accessible to wildlife.
If poisoning is suspected, seek urgent professional advice. Do not wait for symptoms to appear.
8. Litter, plastic and discarded containers
Plastic packaging, cans, glass, string, wire and other rubbish can trap, injure or poison wildlife.
Small animals may become stuck inside containers, while birds can become entangled in string or plastic.
How to prevent injuries:
Pick up litter regularly.
Remove discarded netting, wire and string.
Dispose of packaging responsibly.
Check containers before throwing them away.
Secure rubbish bags and bins.
Avoid leaving broken garden equipment where wildlife can access it.
Please dispose of waste responsibly rather than leaving it in hedges or at the edges of gardens.
9. Fences, gates and garden boundaries
Solid fences and walls can prevent hedgehogs from moving between gardens to find food, mates and shelter. Broken fencing and sharp wire can also cause injuries.
How to prevent harm:
Create suitable ground-level gaps to help hedgehogs move between gardens.
A gap of approximately 13cm × 13cm (5 inches × 5 inches) is commonly recommended.
Remove sharp wire and damaged fencing.
Check beneath gates for places where animals could become trapped.
Ensure access gaps do not lead directly into dangerous areas.
Connected gardens can help support healthier local hedgehog populations.
10. Domestic pets
Dogs and cats can injure wildlife, even when they appear to be playing or investigating.
Cat and dog attacks may cause puncture wounds, crushing injuries and infection. Some wounds are difficult to see beneath feathers, fur or spines.
How to prevent injuries:
Supervise dogs in gardens, particularly after dark when hedgehogs are active.
Keep pets away from nests and resting wildlife.
Prevent pets from chasing or repeatedly disturbing wild animals.
Seek prompt professional advice if a wild animal has been caught or bitten.
If a hedgehog or bird has been caught by a cat or dog, contact a wildlife rescue or veterinary practice promptly, even if there are no visible wounds.
11. Windows and glass doors
Birds may collide with windows when reflections make glass appear to be open sky or vegetation.
Collisions can cause concussion, fractures and other serious injuries.
How to prevent collisions:
Use suitable external window markings or other effective bird-safe glazing measures.
Consider the placement of feeders in relation to windows.
Keep an eye out for repeated collisions in the same location.
Seek wildlife rescue advice if a bird appears injured or unwell after a collision.
Do not assume a bird will recover simply because it can still move after hitting glass.
12. Sheds, garages and outbuildings
Wildlife can accidentally become trapped inside sheds, garages, greenhouses and other buildings.
Animals may enter while searching for food or shelter and then become unable to find their way out.
How to prevent harm:
Check buildings before closing them for long periods.
Inspect sheds and garages before sealing gaps or carrying out repairs.
Keep containers and equipment arranged to minimise entrapment.
Provide a safe exit where appropriate.
Check carefully for nests before disturbing structures.
If an animal is trapped in a dangerous or inaccessible location, seek professional advice rather than risking injury trying to reach it.
13. Garden fleece, string and loose fabrics
Garden fleece, plastic-backed materials, string and discarded fabrics can become entangled around wildlife or be dragged into nests.
Loose materials can also trap small animals beneath them.
How to prevent harm:
Secure garden coverings properly.
Remove loose string and plastic from the garden.
Check beneath covers before moving them.
Dispose of damaged materials safely.
Avoid leaving unsuitable nesting materials accessible to wildlife.
Always check beneath coverings before moving them, particularly if they have been undisturbed for some time.
14. Fires, barbecues and burning garden waste
Open flames, hot ashes and burning materials can injure wildlife. Animals may shelter beneath outdoor equipment or enter areas where fires have been lit.
How to prevent harm:
Check the area around barbecues and outdoor fires before use.
Keep flames and hot equipment away from vegetation and wildlife shelters.
Never leave a fire unattended.
Ensure ashes have cooled completely before disposal.
Do not burn garden waste without checking thoroughly for wildlife.
Never assume that an animal will move away from a fire or recognise the danger.
15. What should I do if I find injured wildlife?
If you discover an animal that is bleeding, trapped, struggling to move, unusually weak or otherwise distressed:
Keep people and pets away.
Observe from a safe distance and assess the immediate danger.
Contact a suitable wildlife rescue or veterinary practice promptly.
Follow professional advice before handling, feeding or treating the animal.
If the animal is in immediate danger, seek instructions on how to move it safely.
Do not apply household products, administer medication or attempt treatment without appropriate guidance.
If the animal is struggling to breathe, barely responsive or severely injured, seek urgent veterinary advice.
Can CapesWildlifeRescue help?
CapesWildlifeRescue assesses and rehabilitates selected wild animals that are sick, injured or otherwise in need of assistance, subject to our species policy, facilities and current capacity.
We cannot accept every species or every admission. Some animals require specialist care elsewhere, and we may direct finders to an appropriate alternative rescue.
Please contact us before bringing an animal to the rescue. All admissions must be discussed and authorised in advance.
When contacting us, please provide:
The species, if known.
Where the animal was found.
What happened, if known.
Whether it is injured, weak or behaving abnormally.
Whether it has been caught by a cat or dog.
A photograph taken from a safe distance, if available.
These details help us assess the situation and advise you on the safest next steps.
A safer garden saves lives
Many garden hazards can be prevented with simple checks and small changes. By securing netting, checking bonfires, covering drains, reducing chemical use and supervising pets, we can help prevent avoidable wildlife injuries.
You do not need a large garden to make a difference.
Take a moment to check before you cut, burn, spray or move anything. That small action could save a life.
