A WIRRAL wildlife rescue centre has issued safety advice to residents ahead of the Bonfire Night and Halloween festivities.

Pawprints Wildlife Rescue provides specialist facilities and expertise for the rescue, rehabilitation and release of Wirral wildlife and ensure the longevity of them.

Hedgehogs and foxes are among just a couple of the wildlife the centre cares for.

Halloween

Decorating and carving pumpkins is a popular activity amongst families in the run-up to Halloween on October, 31.

To keep wildlife safe, Pawprints released the following safety warning to residents:

Bonfire Night

Residents across Wirral will be lighting bonfires to celebrate tGuy Fawkes night on November 5.

A spokesperson for Pawprints Wildlife Rescue said: "If you plan to have a bonfire in the coming week or so, please check it thoroughly before lighting it, and ideally only build it just beforehand.

"Bonfires are perfect log pile houses for hedgehogs and other small mammals. Please please help keep them safe and spread the message to all your friends and neighbours too."

Pawprints has a purpose-built hedgehog rescue and hospital in Hoylake and currently has around 30 hedgehogs in their care, from tint babies to great big old ones in need of medication and rehydration.

Wirral Globe:

Jo Wood MBE, Treasurer and Trustee of Pawprints Wirral Wildlife, said: "Many will need to stay with us over the winter as they are too small, too ill or because it’s getting too late to let them out as temperatures drop and they need to hibernate.

"At this time they are all needing to put on weight to hibernate, and pumpkins will cause major stomach upsets and de-hydrate them.

"They can then fall into hibernation in a less than good condition and simply pass away in their sleep.

"It is such a challenging time of year for them as we cause untold damage to their environment with non-native fruits (pumpkins), plastic spiders webs and fireworks.

"As an endangered protected species, we really should be doing a bit better."