LANCASTER, Pa. — At Acorn Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation in Lancaster, founder and executive director Betsy Shank has rehabilitated just under 600 animals since opening last November. She says holiday decor can unintentionally put animals at risk.

“Fake spider webs, lights, even candy wrappers—animals can get caught or mistake things for food,” Shrank said. “We’re not saying don’t decorate. We’re just asking people to decorate responsibly.”

Experts say animals can become tangled in items like string lights or dangling decorations. Bright lights and motion activated ones can disturb nocturnal species, and plastic candy wrappers can look like food, creating a ripple effect of harm for larger animals that hunt them.

Animals can also get their heads stuck in plastic jack-o-lanterns. "It's

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