The synthetic spider webs commonly seen outside many Irish homes over Halloween can maim and even kill small birds and other wildlife and must be handled with great care, a leading expert has warned.
Small mammals like bats, as well as birds, can be put at grave risk from the webbing, which is typically made with fine strands of synthetic fibres that are almost impossible for animals to escape from once ensnared.
The thin fibres can easily wrap tightly around limbs, making it very difficult for the animals to move and even severing legs in extreme cases.
The mesh, which is sometimes virtually translucent, can also prove to be fatal if ingested by birds and other wildlife, which may find it indistinguishable from real spider webs – particularly when pulled thinly enough.
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Niall Hatch of BirdWatch Ireland said he was not advocating that people immediately strip their homes of all Halloween decorations over concerns they might harm wildlife, but he called on people to be mindful of what they are decorating with and where it might end up.
He said birds that were using hedges around houses to roost faced two distinct risks when coming and going from their winter homes.
If the synthetic webs are put into position while a bird is in the undergrowth, they may find themselves trapped and unable to leave in search of food during the day.
Meanwhile, other birds returning to a roosting spot that has recently being covered in webbing might not see it and end up either getting entangled or unable to get to their roosting spot.
Hatch said the fake webs were typically made with long strands of nylon, which in some instances can be as tough as fishing wire.
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He said the risks of Halloween decorations causing harm were exacerbated during stormy weather, when webbing and other harmful materials could easily be scattered widely.
He it was “not the biggest problem facing wildlife” but was going to be a concern in the days ahead, and one that many might be unaware of.
“If the webbing gets tangled around a bird’s legs or wings it can be a big issue. Certain bushes, like hawthorns, are very attractive to birds and those are the ones where the greatest care should be taken,” he said.
Hatch said it was important to dispose of the spider webs carefully after Halloween and suggested people might keep an eye on their decorations to make sure no wildlife has become ensnared.
“I don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun and in the vast majority of cases there won’t be a problem, but it is something to be aware of,” he said.
