Despite the heat, leave hedgehogs and other wildlife to fend for themselves

With high temperatures continuing, there’s a temptation to want to help wildlife survive the heat but wild animals must be left to fend for themselves, according to the Vaud General Directorate for the Environment.

The directorate says that some species adapt to high temperatures by becoming nocturnal while others may be forced to move to find alternative water sources.
    
The hot weather is taking its toll on many species. Water is being helicoptered up to summer pastures for cattle struggling to find something to drink as mountain springs and streams dry up while there are fears that many freshwater fish won’t survive the heatwave as river levels fall and water temperature rises.

However, the Vaud General Directorate for the Environment says that many species, such as foxes and squirrels, will find their way to alternative water sources.

The directorate says that animals have a great ability to adapt to extreme climate events and advises against even placing bowls of water in the garden for hedgehogs.

 

More from Bitesize News

  • Citizenship remains one of the hardest on continent

    The Council of States has rejected a popular initiative that would have let foreigners apply for citizenship after just five years, closing the parliamentary door on the biggest attempt in years to loosen one of Europe's strictest naturalisation regimes

  • More gun crime in Annemasse

    Seven people are in French police custody after a shooting Monday evening at a drug-dealing spot in Ville-la-Grand, on the edge of Annemasse

  • Geneva land ownership change

    The canton of Geneva is set to become the sole owner of the land beneath Stade de Genève, buying out a parcel held by federal railways CFF for CHF 15.84 million

  • Agriculture warning after record breaking summer

    Farmers warn that another summer like this one would eat through their remaining reserves and force cuts to herds and crops

  • SNB interest rate stable

    The Swiss National Bank has kept its key interest rate at zero, sticking with a policy that has held since June 2025 even as oil-driven inflation ticks higher

  • Phone company going to court

    A Swisscom technician who spent 38 years at the company says he was fired for helping his 80-year-old neighbour cancel a subscription she never wanted

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play