Caring for wildlife during hot weather

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Caring for wildlife during hot weather

RSPCA Australia
Wednesday, 8 January 2025

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With temperatures still very hot across many parts of Australia, we know many conscientious animal guardians will be taking steps to keep their animals healthy and safe. But we mustn’t forget our local wildlife, who can also suffer when the temperatures rise and the heat waves roll in. Here are some helpful tips to aid our furry, feathered, and scaly friends during the summer months.

Water for wildlife.

Leave bowls of fresh, clean water out in shady locations. Use shallow dishes, if possible, to allow smaller animals and bees to drink without getting stuck or drowning. Place the bowls of water in areas where they can be safely accessed and animals can be protected from predators while drinking, such as a shrub or bush. Be sure to keep your pets away from these areas also. And while water is always welcome, unless you’re advised by a registered wildlife carer or veterinarian, don’t attempt to feed wild animals.

Make your garden a cool haven.

During hot weather wildlife may leave their usual dwelling areas in search of cooler refuge. If you have a garden with a lot of foliage, using your garden hose to spray mist into trees and shrubs will help create cooler niches wildlife can use to escape the heat.

If you see wildlife resting in your garden, you should keep people and pets away and allow them to rest and recover. Noise should also be kept as minimal as possible.

Recognising and safely rescuing heat-stressed wildlife.

Wildlife suffering from heat stress may appear disoriented, unable to maintain their balance or even collapse in extreme weather conditions. Another sign of heat stress is normally nocturnal animals such as possums appearing during the day or tree-dwelling birds staying close to the ground. Heat stressed reptiles may seek refuge in cool dark places such as under rocks, houses or burrows.

Keep in mind that just being near them creates stress in wild animals, so it’s best not to approach unless necessary and to keep handling to an absolute minimum, and to seek advice and assistance from your local wildlife rescue group. To safely help a wild animal experiencing heat stress, wrap them loosely in a towel, place them in a cardboard box and offer water to drink. Spraying with a fine mist of water can also help to cool the animal down. Leave in a dark, cool and quiet place and seek advice and assistance..

But don’t attempt to handle fruit bats.

Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, play an important role in our eco-system, dispersing the pollen and fruit of many native trees. Although they have evolved to deal with high temperatures for short periods, flying foxes are not well equipped to deal with prolonged high temperatures and low humidity and are at risk during summer heat waves. If you come across a fallen flying fox that is injured or suffering from heat stress, it’s important that you do not attempt to touch or handle them. Bats can carry diseases that can be transferred to humans if scratched or bitten. Instead, call your local bat rescue organisation for trained assistance, if the bat is on the ground, you can gently spray them with water or set up temporary shade to help cool them, while waiting.

Lastly, keep a list of local wildlife rescue groups on hand, you never know when you may come across a wild animal in need of assistance. We hope these tips are helpful in equipping caring individuals to aid wildlife in their time of need this summer.

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