Safer Gardens

SLUGS

Please be very aware of the dangers of using slug pellets. Fortunately for our declining hedgehog population, slug control products containing metaldehyde are no longer available. They are usually bright blue and despite reassurances on the label, they are lethal to hedgehogs and other wildlife including song thrushes when they eat the poisoned slugs and snails. If you have any of this type of slug pellets lurking in the shed, don't be tempted to use them. According to The British Hedgehog Preservation Society, post mortem examinations had concluded that hedgehogs died as a result of poisoning, either from eating the pellets or the poisoned slugs. There is no antidote and eventually they die because of the toxins.

Slug killers containing aluminium sulphate kill slugs and snails by drying up the skin. They are not a bait but kill upon contact. Sprinkled round the area to be protected , they are safe to use where our wildlife is concerned

Here are some safer alternatives to controlling these pests!

○ Bran

slugs will eat the bran which dries them up from the inside.

○ Stale beer

in empty plastic lidded tubs with slots cut into the sides and then sunk into the ground. slugs will find the smell irresistible, crawl in and die happy.

○ Sand, soot or eggshells

when sprinkled around the base the gritty surface will deter.

○ Plastic bottles

sawn off to make a cylinder and placed around individual plants.

○ Copper face slug and snail tape works as a deterrent

○Microscopic nemeatodes, mixed with water and sprinkled on vulnerable areas are an effective biological and safe control agent, effective for up to 6 weeks - brand name / trademark Nemaslug

○ Wet sacking or ½ grapefruits

placed around the plants will provide a moist daytime refuge from which slugs can be collected.

○ Coffee grounds

sprinkled around each plant.

○ Nocturnal sorties

physical removal with torch and tweezers. If you do not want the kill any captives, they could be released into the countryside. It is no use throwing them over your neighbour’s fence – they always return!

○ Hedgehogs, frogs and toads

are natures way of controlling garden pests which are all part of the wildlife food chain. Make them welcome in your garden by leaving a wild corner with cosy dry places for nesting and try to leave those places alone. Do not spray with chemicals.

Other garden hazards

Holes

Each year many hedgehogs fall into uncovered holes. Fill post holes with rubble and cover drains and garage pits securely.

Netting

We have lots of casualties that have become entangled in nets of all kinds. Horizontal plant and pond nets should be stretched tight and pegged down firmly. Those hung vertically should clear the ground by 6”. All sports nets should be rolled up at end of play and any unused netting should be put away. A new problem is the netting covers supplied with small recycling boxes, make sure they are securely in place.

Bonfires, composts heaps, and piles of rubbish

These are all potential nest sights for hedgehogs. Please check carefully before forking over compost and clearing rubbish. Re-stack bonfires just before lighting and light big community fires in one place only to give any wildlife a chance to wake up and escape before the flames reach them.

Pampas grass

Please do not set fire to your pampas grass to kill the previous years growth. These plants are often used as hedgehog nest sites and you may kill more that just dead grass.

Ponds / water containers

Hedgehogs can swim very well but can drown in a steep sided pond. When planning your pond make sure there is a shallow area or leave a ramp of bricks as an escape route. Rigid fine gauge wire netting draped over the side would provide a means of scrambling out.

Litter

As well as looking unsightly, discarded litter causes many problems for our wildlife. 4 pack tops and yoghurt tubs and empty tins are all potential wildlife head trappers. Please dispose of all litter responsibly. Hedgehogs love to nest in black plastic sacks. Tie them up securely after use and check any open sacks before throwing them away.

Strimmers

Many horrific injuries are caused each year by strimmers and other electrical garden implements. Before clearing any overgrown areas, always ‘sweep’ first with a stick or a booted foot to make sure there is no slumbering wildlife.

Food

In a drought a hedgehog’s natural food disappears. Tinned cat or dog food or cat biscuits (all non-fishy) can be a lifesaver. Make sure there is always a bowl of water available. Pushing all food under a paving slab on four bricks should ensure a cat/fox proof feeding station or see ours in Garden nestboxes. NEVER GIVE A HEDGEHOG BREAD AND MILK, they cannot digest cows’ milk and it will make them quite ill.

Wood preservers

Many wood preservers are poisonous and will harm hedgehogs as they frequently lick freshly treated fences. Ask for an environmentally safe water-based product from your garden centre.

Pesticides

Many of these contain deadly poisons (see SLUGS). Organic methods are much safer. Soapy water is good for spraying aphids and other insects and there is a wide selection of safe insect killers on the market. Read the packet carefully and always mix according to the instructions. Why not try natural repellents like old-fashioned pot marigolds. Once established they seed well and slugs give them a wide berth.

Sheds and garages

If a shed or garage door is accidentally left open through the night, check thoroughly before closing – they contain lots of dry and cosy hedgehog nesting places.

Traps

Squirrel and rat traps must be checked each morning. They often trap hedgehogs by mistake.