One thing in animals’ favour is that, unlike plants, they can move: so in extreme conditions, individuals can travel to higher areas or more Northerly latitudes, where it's cooler, or unaffected by floods, or find shelter in shady woodlands or under stones.
Adapting to extremes - animals
When we hear on the news about devastating floods or heatwaves it's usually the human suffering that's reported but in the “Western” world at least we can usually find shelter, or turn on the air conditioning. How many of us stop to think about how wildlife is affected?
Garden snail © Nick Upton/2020VISION
Snails can retreat into their shell and seal the entrance to minimise water loss.
Slow worm © Amy Lewis
Some species actually thrive in warmer climates; cold blooded creatures such as slow worms, snakes, lizards, and most insects, are generally more active as it becomes warmer so they can benefit from a hot spell – provided they can find water.
Some social insects keep their nests cool by clever means: bees fan their wings to aid air circulation through the hive; ants strategically open and close nest entrances for the same reason.
On the flip side, more active creatures usually need more food so this is only sustainable if their food source also survives.
Mosquitoes are a notable species which thrive in hotter conditions: climate change is leading to them increasing their range Northwards globally, and for as long as there are mammals or birds for them to feed off, they will continue to do well! (Whilst we might not think this is a good thing, it’s worth remembering that insects are the bottom of many food chains so multiple other animals’ survival is ultimately dependent on them.)
Feral pigeon © Bertie Gregory/2020VISION
Warm blooded creatures – most mammals, and birds – don't cope in the same way; they regulate their own body temperature so if the air is too hot they can't cool down. Small mammals and garden birds are vulnerable because of their small body mass.
For example, we might think pigeons survive everywhere but during a heatwave the heat can be so intense, even more so in urban areas with little greenery, that they suffer dehydration and heatstroke.
Blonde hedgehog at night © Andrew Charle -O'Callaghan
Hedgehogs likewise can dehydrate very quickly and suffer especially when it’s too warm at night. Lack of water can cause animals to range further in their search for it, which may bring them into another individual's territory so increased aggression – and likely injury – becomes an issue.
House sparrow © Joan Burkmar
Probably the single most important thing you can do to help wildlife is to make sure there’s always water available in your garden or yard – but if it’s a pond, make sure there are rocks or shallow areas to allow creatures to escape if they fall in.
There is strong evidence too that many mammals' sperm count and quality is adversely affected by excessive heat, so their breeding is less successful.
Pool frog © Tom Hibbert
Amphibians too, even though they’re cold blooded, can only breed successfully within a range of water temperatures, so if your pond’s in full sun during a heatwave it might get too warm for the frogspawn, so could cause populations to crash.
Warming water contains less oxygen which can kill fish directly, as well as causing toxic algal blooms.
So whilst humans in Cumbria might be loving the seemingly increasing number heatwaves we’re seeing, it’s important not to lose sight of the wildlife which might not be enjoying it so much.
Dyane Silvester
Here's some ideas of how to look after wildlife in your garden
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