Help wild animals survive the heatwave

The environmental association LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux) has advised to put some water in a small plate or bowl (no deeper than 4cm) in your garden or on your balcony for birds and other animals such as bees, squirrels and hedgehogs to drink when they need it.

If everyone did it it would help save thousands of animals, wildlife workers say.

The LPO recommends changing the water regularly to avoid spreading disease.

Young animals and injured animals are often the most vulnerable during heatwaves – and especially as the heatwave is early and at this time of the year there are lots of young animals still dependent on their mothers to be fed. Young hedgehogs notably still need the milk of their mother, which is at risk of drying up if the mother is not well hydrated.

Birds such as young swifts also jump out of their nests to escape the heat and animal shelters already report that they are on alert to collect the young birds.