Every evening, as night fell, a small, stocky shadow would slip under the hedge in the garden, heading toward the bowl of cat food left outside for the cat. A discreet ritual, almost touching, that the property owner had eventually accepted with goodwill. But at the beginning of autumn, a period when rodents seek shelter near homes, he had also decided to place anti-rat granules around the house. A common precaution, almost a reflex. What he did not know was that this gesture would have consequences much broader than expected, and affect a nocturnal visitor he absolutely did not think about. The animal in question was not a rat, but a hedgehog, familiar with the area for several seasons. It would pass under the hedge almost every evening, nibble on some leftovers, and then go about its useful tasks in the garden. One morning, it was found dead, not far from its usual path. No signs of injury, no predators involved: the trail of the anti-rat granules quickly emerged as the most probable explanation. A particularly bitter finding, as this small mammal was rightly perceived as a precious ally against slugs and other unwanted insects. Rodenticide baits are designed to attract rodents using cereals and appetizing aromas, but they have no mechanism to distinguish species. Result: the hedgehog can directly access some poorly secured baits, attracted by the same smell intended to trap rats and mice. But the danger does not stop there. Even when the granules are placed in supposedly secure boxes, a hedgehog can be indirectly contaminated by consuming a rodent or another prey that has itself ingested poison. This is called secondary poisoning, a formidable mechanism because it affects animals that have never approached the bait directly. The poison, often an anticoagulant, acts slowly, causing internal bleeding that is difficult to detect until it is too late. Faced with this risk, several solutions allow limiting the presence of rats without endangering hedgehogs and other discreet visitors to the garden. Here are some options to prefer: Use mechanical traps instead of chemical granules. Remove sources of food accessible at night, such as bowls for animals left outside. Block access to areas where rodents could nest, without completely closing the usual passage of useful small wildlife. Prefer natural repellents or targeted solutions, only as a last resort. In autumn, a period when hedgehogs actively seek to build reserves before hibernation, vigilance is even more important. A welcoming garden, without being an invisible trap, allows reconciling the fight against pests and respect for local biodiversity. This kind of story reminds us how an innocuous gesture can have unsuspected repercussions on the wildlife that shares our gardens. Before spreading granules, perhaps it is better to wonder who else, without meaning to, could end up on the path of poison.