How to Help Wildlife When It’s Hot
The summer months are great fun for humans and local wildlife, with long days and warmer weather; what's not to love?!
However, extreme heat can be challenging for wildlife. Animals find it difficult to survive without fresh water and food sources during high temperatures.
As temperatures soar during the summer, we must look after animals and provide them with a bird bath, food, and shelter.
It doesn't matter if you live in a city apartment or have access to acres of land; we've got tips to help you help the wildlife around you this summer.
Challenges Wildlife Face In Hot Weather
Dehydration & Lack of Water
During dry conditions, natural water sources like ponds, puddles, and streams dry up, and wildlife and struggling pollinators find it hard to stay hydrated. Birds, hedgehogs, foxes, and insects may have to travel further and take more risks to find water. Amphibians, which rely on wet environments to survive, are particularly vulnerable. Without access to clean water, animals can quickly become dehydrated, affecting their health, mobility, and survival.
Heat Stress in Wild Animals
Just like humans, animals can suffer from overheating and even heatstroke. During extreme heat, mammals and birds may be forced to reduce their activity or seek shelter, disrupting feeding and breeding patterns. Nocturnal animals like hedgehogs might be seen foraging during the day in search of water or cooler spots, increasing their exposure to predators and human activity. Smaller animals are especially susceptible to rapid temperature changes.
Food Scarcity
Hot, dry weather reduces plant growth and insect populations. This has a ripple effect throughout the food chain. Insect-eating birds like swifts and bats may struggle to find enough food, while herbivores may find fewer plants, seeds, or berries to feed on. With soil dried out and vegetation sparse, animals like badgers, rabbits, and deer have a harder time foraging. This can weaken health and lower survival rates for adults and their young.
Habitat Loss & Climate Change
During heat waves, habitats degrade quickly. Grasslands, heaths, and moorlands are prone to fires, which can destroy nesting sites and kill animals unable to escape. Urban environments often offer little shade or refuge, creating "heat islands" that trap wildlife in hot, dry spaces with limited resources. Over time, these conditions can drive species away from once-suitable habitats or lead to population declines.
Ways to Help Wildlife
Provide Water & Bathing Water
Leave out shallow dishes of clean, fresh tap water in shady spots for birds, mammals, and insects. Add pebbles or a few stones so bees and butterflies can land and drink safely. Regularly clean and refill containers to prevent the spread of disease. Birdbaths also help birds cool off and keep their feathers in good condition. If you've got a garden pond, keep it topped up.
Create Shade and Shelter
Offer animals places to hide from the sun by letting hedges grow, building log piles, or leaving dense vegetation untouched. Even a small overturned flowerpot or cardboard box in a shaded corner can give a hedgehog or toad relief from the heat.
Support Pollinators
Pollinators struggle in hot weather when flowers wilt and nectar dries up. Water your plants during cooler times of day to keep blooms healthy. Choose pollinator-friendly flowers like lavender, marjoram, and foxglove. Provide bee hydration stations by placing water in shallow dishes with marbles or stones, perfect for bees and other insects.
Offer Safe Food (If Needed)
During long dry spells, natural food sources may become scarce. You can help by offering safe foods like chopped fruit (apples, berries, melon) for birds and hedgehogs, you can leave dog food or hedgehog food in a shallow bowl for hedgehogs too.
Avoid giving milk, bread, or processed human foods. Only offer small amounts, and clean up uneaten food to avoid attracting pests.
Keep Gardens Wild and Cool
Let your garden grow a bit messy, long grass, nettle patches, and wildflower corners provide cooler microhabitats and vital food sources. Water your garden in the early morning or evening to retain soil moisture and help plants support insects. Avoid pesticides in this garden, as these can be harmful to insects and other animals.
Who to Contact?
If you spot an injured animal, it's best to contact a local wildlife rescue as they can provide you with more information on how to help the bird and other animals.
