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Entry 661Filed under Breeding

What to Do When Wildlife Is Caught in Halloween Decorations

If an animal is caught in Halloween webbing or decorations, call a local wildlife rehabilitator before attempting removal. Learn what to do and how to prevent entanglement.
3-minute read By Animalso Team
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If an animal is caught in outdoor Halloween webbing, lights, or netting, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal-care center promptly. Describe the animal and what it is caught in, then ask what to do before trying to free it. Do not assume that an animal is unharmed just because it can be untangled.

What to do first

  1. Keep your distance. Identify the animal and the material without chasing or provoking it. Do not put yourself within reach of an animal that could bite, scratch, or sting.
  2. Call a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal-care center. Explain what kind of animal is caught, what material is involved, whether the material is still attached, and whether you can see an injury. Follow instructions for that animal and situation. OWL Rehab advises calling a local rehabilitator and not attempting removal unless instructed: OWL Rehab’s entanglement guidance.
  3. Arrange professional evaluation. A successful release does not show that the animal is uninjured. Audubon warns that serious entanglement injuries may not be visible, and OWL Rehab recommends prompt professional examination.

If you cannot reach a rehabilitator, or the decoration is dangerous to access, contact local animal control or wildlife authorities for direction. If a person faces immediate danger, use the appropriate emergency service in your area. There is no universal do-it-yourself fallback established for every species and decoration.

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Should you cut the web off an animal?

There is no single hands-on method that is safe for every animal or material. In its bird-focused Halloween guidance, Audubon says to cut the web around an animal caught in decorative webbing and take it in a bag or box to the closest animal-care center: Audubon’s bird-friendly Halloween advice. OWL Rehab’s broader entanglement guidance cautions against attempting removal unless a rehabilitator has instructed you to do so. Contact a professional for advice specific to the animal and circumstances rather than treating Audubon’s web-specific direction as a general wildlife-rescue protocol.

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Do not pull material from fur or feathers, cut close to the animal, or handle a wild animal without professional direction. Struggling can tighten pressure on a limb, restrict blood flow, and worsen injury; Audubon reports that severe injuries can include toe amputations.

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Why Halloween webbing is a wildlife hazard

Artificial webbing can entangle wildlife that may be unable to free itself. As Alison Hermance, WildCare’s director of communications, put it in Audubon, “Spider web is designed by nature, and by the spider, to entangle and entrap.” Pressure from entanglement can impair blood flow, and an injury may remain hidden even after the material is removed.

The frequency of these incidents is not known. The Canadian Wildlife Federation says it is unsure how often animals become caught in Halloween decorations, so there is no reliable incidence figure to cite.

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How to remove decorations more safely

Once it is safe to approach the decorations, remove the hazard carefully and check strands, loops, and holes before storing or discarding them. Do not leave webbing or netting where wildlife can encounter it while you decide what to do.

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  • Avoid artificial spiderwebbing outdoors when possible. The University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine advises against fake webs, small hanging pieces, and decorations with holes or loops: University of Illinois wildlife guidance.
  • If you use webbing, display it indoors where wildlife cannot reach it. The Canadian Wildlife Federation advises using outdoor webbing sparingly, leaving it up briefly, and checking it a couple of times a day: Canadian Wildlife Federation FAQ.
  • Keep decorations away from animal routes and trees, and avoid closed loops that could trap an animal. Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center offers these prevention recommendations: Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

There is no universal removal date or interval in this guidance; avoid the hazard or limit and regularly check any outdoor display.

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Finding help near you

Look for a local wildlife rehabilitator or animal-care center and confirm that it accepts the species involved. If you cannot identify a suitable provider, contact your local wildlife authority or animal control for a referral. A phone number or service area listed by a center in one region should not be assumed to apply elsewhere.

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