Hello Autumn!
“Never jump in a pile of leaves with a wet sucker.”
-Linus Van Pelt
Fall is a magical time when the summer heat has finally abated,
the frantic nesting season has ended and the natural world takes a silent pause.
Autumn Safety Tips
As the weather turns crisp and the autumn leaves start to resemble brown sugar and cinnamon, there is always that readiness to escape from that hot summer weather. It is always good to remember that lurking dangers that await our four legged friends as the sun takes a step back in preparation for autumn to awaken.
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Below are some safety tips to keep your pet save, happy and healthy as the fall crisp comes.
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Additional Items to be Warry Of:
Be Careful With Rodenticides and Cold‑Weather Poisons
Rodenticide use increases in the fall as animals try to move indoors. These products are extremely toxic to pets and wildlife and can be fatal if eaten. If you must use them, place them only where animals cannot reach them.
Many people also change their car’s coolant in the fall. Ethylene‑glycol antifreeze is highly toxic — clean up any spills right away. Consider switching to propylene‑glycol coolant, which is much less dangerous.
Keep School Supplies Out of Reach
Back‑to‑school season means more glue sticks, pencils, markers, and backpacks around the house. These items are low‑toxicity but can still cause stomach upset or blockages if swallowed. Keep them where pets can’t get into them.
Avoid Mushrooms
Fall is peak mushroom season. While most mushrooms are harmless, the small percentage that are toxic can be life‑threatening. Because dangerous mushrooms are hard to identify, the safest option is to keep pets away from areas where mushrooms are growing.
If you think your pet has eaten something toxic, contact your veterinarian right away.
Wildlife in Autumn
Watch Out for Wildlife
As temperatures drop, snakes prepare for hibernation, which can increase the risk of bites to curious pets. Know which venomous snakes live in your area and where they hide so you can keep pets away from those spots.
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Don’t Leave Pumpkins in the Woods
Leftover Halloween pumpkins may seem harmless, but they rot slowly, damage ecosystems, attract predators, and can be dangerous to wildlife. Instead of leaving them outside, try cooking with them, turning them into bird feeders, or composting them.
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Make a Pumpkin Bird Feeder
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Remove the lid and scoop out the inside
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Push sturdy sticks through the sides to create perches
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Fill with bird seed
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Place on a table or hang from a strong branch
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Clean it regularly and compost it once it starts to rot
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Leave Some Fallen Apples
Leaving a few apples on the ground can help insects and small animals like butterflies, birds, foxes, and badgers. They provide an easy, energy‑rich food source as the weather cools.
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Don’t Use Leftover Cooking Fat for Birds
Cooking fat can smear onto feathers and ruin birds’ insulation and waterproofing.
Use pure fats like lard or suet instead, or hang high‑quality bird feeders in sheltered areas.
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Offer Clean Nest Boxes
Even after nesting season, birds use boxes for shelter in cold weather. Autumn is the perfect time to clean old boxes or put up new ones. Birds may also scout them for spring nesting.
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Be Selective When Pruning
Autumn gardening often means cutting everything back, but leaving some seedheads, hollow stems, or low foliage provides food and shelter for many species. Even a small untouched area can make a difference.
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Keep Bird Baths and Feeders Filled
Cold weather makes food and water harder to find. Offer nuts, seeds, and other high‑energy foods. Keep bird baths from freezing by floating a small ball on the surface to break up ice.
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Install a Bat Box
Bat boxes can be placed in gardens, balconies, or roofs. They offer safe roosting spots, especially as bats look for winter shelter. Choose a box that’s dry, draft‑free, and mounted at least 14 feet high in a sunny, sheltered location. Multiple boxes facing different directions provide more options.
Sources:
mrplantgeek.com \ woodlandtrust.org.uk
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