Simple Ways to Help Hedgehogs and Garden Wildlife During the Hot Weather

By Animals Correspondent

As temperatures remain high and dry weather continues across much of the UK, wildlife experts are encouraging people to take a few simple steps to help hedgehogs and other garden animals stay safe.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) is asking people to leave out shallow dishes of fresh water in gardens and green spaces, saying access to drinking water can become difficult during long spells of hot, dry weather.

Adding a few pebbles to the dish gives bees, butterflies and other insects somewhere to perch while they drink, making it easier for a range of wildlife to benefit.

The charity also recommends placing water in a shady spot and topping it up with fresh water every day.

Hot, dry conditions can make it harder for hedgehogs to find both food and water, particularly as the ground becomes dry and natural water sources disappear.

People who regularly feed hedgehogs are encouraged to put out meaty hedgehog food, meaty cat or dog food, or dry cat biscuits to help them through the warmer weather.

Fay Vass, Chief Executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, said:

"Extreme heat and drought can have devastating consequences for hedgehogs and other wildlife. Without access to fresh water, many animals face dehydration, exhaustion and, in some cases, death.

"With temperatures remaining high and natural water sources drying up, even the smallest action can make a huge difference. A shallow dish of clean water placed in a shady spot could save a hedgehog's life."

The charity also suggests creating wildlife-friendly ponds with gently sloping edges where possible, leaving areas of natural shade and avoiding tidying away log piles and wild corners, which can provide shelter for hedgehogs and other wildlife during periods of extreme heat.

The advice comes as hedgehog numbers remain under pressure. According to the State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2022 report, produced by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and People's Trust for Endangered Species, rural hedgehog populations have fallen by between 30% and 75% since 2000.

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While there are signs of recovery in some urban areas, the charity says gardens continue to play an important role by providing food, water and shelter for hedgehogs and other wildlife.

It may seem like a small gesture, but a bowl of fresh water, a little shade and some suitable food could help wildlife safely through another spell of hot summer weather.

More advice on helping hedgehogs throughout the year is available from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.