People living in the UK are being urged to leave water bowls in their gardens this summer to help wildlife cope with the hot, dry conditions. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) fears the heat could take a devastating toll on animals and is appealing to the public to take a few seconds to make a difference.
Anyone with a garden can get involved by placing shallow dishes of clean water around their green space. The charity advises keeping the water topped up daily and adding a handful of pebbles so that bees, butterflies and other insects can safely perch while drinking.
Charity's appeal
In an alert shared this summer, BHPS said: "As hot, dry weather conditions continue across the UK, we’re appealing to the public to provide fresh water for hedgehogs and other garden wildlife amid fears that the prolonged heatwave could take a devastating toll. Scarcity of water is an increasing threat to wildlife in modern towns and cities, and extended periods of high temperatures and drought currently affecting the UK and Europe are making survival even harder."
The charity continued: "Placing shallow dishes of clean water around gardens and green spaces can be a lifeline to a myriad of thirsty garden wildlife. From hedgehogs and frogs to birds and insects, it can provide vital relief during extreme heat."
Rescues overwhelmed
Elsewhere, a charity told the BBC it has been 'inundated' with baby hedgehogs needing care. Lisa Steward from Thorne Hedgehog Rescue said: "The long hot dry spell has meant that mums are struggling to find food so their milk is of poor quality or it's drying up. We're inundated with hoglets, more than we've ever had before."
What to avoid
Homeowners should not leave out milk, as the RSPCA says hedgehogs are lactose intolerant. Advice on the RSPCA website said: "Leaving food and fresh water out in the garden each night will encourage visiting hedgehogs to return regularly. Try tinned meaty cat or dog food and crushed cat or dog biscuits. Place the food and water in shallow bowls so they can access them easily. Refresh daily, disposing of food if it’s not been eaten. Never give hedgehogs milk, as they’re lactose intolerant and it can cause diarrhoea. Or bread, as it provides no nutritional benefit for them."
Creating a hedgehog highway
Wildlife enthusiasts can also help out by creating a 'highway' in their gardens. Doing so helps to keep the creatures roaming freely and away from busy roads. The RSPCA explained: "Hedgehogs can travel around 3km (almost two miles) every night. Make sure they have a clear route between gardens by cutting 13 x 13cm (5 x 5in) holes at the base of fences, removing bricks from walls or digging tunnels under the garden boundary – just check with your neighbours first!"
More information is available on the charity's website.
