Ways to help wildlife in the heat

Rising temperatures are making life tougher for wildlife all over the world and here in the UK it’s no different. We’re one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with many species in decline. That's why nature needs our help more than ever.

Tips for helping Wildlife

When the temperature rises, we can find ways to stay cool, by picking up a fan, taking a cold shower or eating an ice cream. But for our local wildlife it isn't as easy.

Here are some simple ways you can help wildlife stay cool and safe this summer:

A female Goldcrest (Regulus regulus), Britains smallest bird.

1. Help keep them hydrated

If you have a bird bath, make sure to top it up to help birds cool off and stay hydrated.
Put a shallow bowl of water on the ground so hedgehogs and their little hoglets can have something to drink.
You can also add a few stones to provide shallower pools for insects to drink from like the humble bumblebee!^[1]
You could go one step further and make a simple trough as a makeshift pond to provide a safe space for frogs and other amphibians when natural water sources dry out.

2. Protect them from the sun

Create sheltered areas for wildlife to use in the heat so they can stay cool.
Avoid trimming back hedges and overgrown areas of your garden. Thicker, unpruned plants can help birds to stay cool and provide secure resting areas.
Flowering plants in shady areas will be a welcome relief for bees and other insects. If you see a sleepy bumblebee on the pavement or a windowsill in the hot sun, they can be carefully transported to a flower in a shady area if safe to do so.^[2]

3. Leave food out

For hedgehogs it’s best to use readily available hedgehog food or otherwise small amounts of meaty cat or dog food. Remember, don't give hedgehogs anything with milk, they’re lactose intolerant!
For badgers moist food such as water-soaked raisins, currents, and seasonal fruits are great.
Birds benefit from mealworms, mixed seeds including sunflower hearts, and fruit such as apples and pears.^[3]

A bee gathers nectar in a Bluebell Wood in the UK.

4. Grow nectar rich flowers

Don’t forget about our precious insects!

Plant wildflower seed mixes to help creatures like bees and butterflies through the summer. You can buy great seed mixes at garden centres and even supermarkets now. Look for seed mixes with things like betony, oxeye daisy and poppy.

European hedgehog using hole in garden fence to move between gardens, Norfolk, England, UK

5. Make a wildlife highway

Shortcuts through your outdoor space can lend hedgehogs, frogs and toads a helping hand too. All they need is a gap of around 13cm x 13cm to travel safely through fences and walls.

The wildlife you'll be helping

© naturepl.com / Mark Carwardine / WWF

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Badgers

Much like hedgehogs, badgers struggle to reach their favourite earthworms in the hard, parched soil. With less access to food and water, badgers may forage over greater distances, leading to potential heat exhaustion or an increased risk of road deaths.^[4]
© Ben Andrew

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Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs really don’t like the heat, often waiting until the cooler evenings to venture out. But if the ground becomes parched in the day, it’s nearly impossible for hedgehogs to dig their claws into the ground to find food. Even if they can, food is often scarce as worms and beetles retreat deeper underground. Like us, hedgehogs also need plenty to drink in the heat and with water sources drying up, they could become dehydrated, with their baby hoglets most at risk.^[5]
© David Bebber / WWF-UK

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Bumblebees

Bumblebees and other insects are crucial for pollinating crops, fruits and other plants. They’re vital for maintaining a healthy environment and for our food production. Bumblebees also have a furry coat and much prefer cooler climates as they can easily overheat and become unable to fly or forage. They also struggle in times of extreme heat as the flowers providing them with nectar and pollen may start to dry and wilt.^[6]
© WWF-UK shutterstock Rudmer Zwerver

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Birds

Unlike us, birds don’t have sweat glands, which makes it hard for them to regulate their body temperature. However, they still lose a lot of water in hot weather through droppings and breathing.^[5] Water sources drying up means birds struggle to stay hydrated and healthy, and you may notice their feathers in poor condition.
© David Lawson/WWF-UK

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Frogs

Hot weather can seriously impact frog lifecycles and warmer water temperatures could lead to ponds drying up. When this happens, tadpoles may be forced to leave the pond before they have developed into froglets, which is fatal.
Dry conditions make it hard for frogs and other amphibians to find dark, damp spots where they will often take refuge. Deadly frog diseases, such as ranavirus, can also spread rapidly in the warmer weather.^[7]