Preparing for a wildlife-friendly Halloween

Published on 07 October 2025

Halloween is just around the corner and many of us are getting into the spooky spirit. While popular decorations such as fake spiderwebs and plastic decorations might look eerie, they can pose a real danger to our local wildlife.

According to BirdLife Australia fine netting in spiderweb decorations can entangle small birds like honeyeaters, thornbills, and silvereyes, all common to our area.

Plastic decorations pose a threat too, especially for birds who may mistake them for nest materials. Bits of plastic can end up in nests, which is risky for chicks and other wildlife that come into contact with it. With this I mind it’s worth exploring more wildlife-friendly options.

Rethinking single-use Halloween items

Many Halloween decorations end up in landfill. Single-use plastic items, often mixed with materials that aren’t recyclable, take hundreds of years to break down. As they do, they release microplastics that can harm soil, water, and entire ecosystems.

By choosing reusable and recyclable decorations, we can reduce the impact on our environment.

Ideas for a green Halloween

Make your own sustainable decorations by:

• crafting your own spiderwebs: make spiderwebs from natural twine or yarn, with large gaps to keep wildlife safe.
• DIYing posters and signs: handmade paper signs using paint or natural materials like leaves and twigs can add spooky charm without the environmental impact.
• biodegradable bats and ghosts: instead of buying new decorations, try cutting paper bats to hang from trees or repurposing old towels for ghoulish figures.
• turn plastic milk cartons into spooky creations: fill with water, draw a scary face, add some lights and let the haunting begin!