'Don’t let hedgehogs die out’ warning amid heatwave risk

This report details the content of the Channel 4 News segment regarding the impact of recent heatwaves on British wildlife, specifically hedgehogs and swifts.

The Situation

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves in the UK, leading to severe consequences for local species that are struggling to adapt to higher temperatures and prolonged hot spells.

Hedgehogs: Struggling with Dehydration

Hedgehogs, considered a beloved national icon, are facing a drastic population decline.

Population Context: The population has plummeted from 36 million individuals 50-60 years ago to approximately 880,000 today [00:42].

Impact of Heat: The cur

rent dry, hot weather makes it difficult for them to find food, and natural water sources are drying up, leading to severe dehydration [00:54].

Rescue Surge: Wildlife centers are overwhelmed. In Shepworth, one center reported an unprecedented 40 rescue cases in two weeks, with 10 occurring in just a few days [01:10].

How to Help Hedgehogs:

Water: Provide shallow sources of water [01:25].

Safety: If you have ponds or pools, install ramps so hedgehogs can exit safely [01:33].

Diet: Provide food in bowls, but strictly no milk, as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant [01:38].

Habitat: Leave a wild area in your garden for them to utilize [01:43].

Swifts: Forced fro

m the Nest

Swifts, birds that spend almost their entire lives in the sky, are experiencing difficulties due to extreme heat in their nesting sites [02:18].

Heat Stress: Nests are becoming dangerously hot. Young swifts are jumping out of nests prematurely to escape the heat, even though they are not ready to be on the ground, where they will die without intervention [03:05].

Parental Abandonment: Adult swifts may abandon nests if the temperature becomes intolerable [03:24].

Recovery: With proper rehabilitation, most swifts show high resilience and are capable of a full recovery [03:38].

How to Help Swifts:

Intervention: If you find a swift on the ground, in

tervention is necessary [04:02].

Resources: Contact the group "Swifts SOS" on Facebook, which connects finders with local rehabilitators, transport assistance, and expert advice [03:46].

Summary of Population Decline (Hedgehogs)

The following table illustrates the dramatic shift in population mentioned in the report:

Era Estimated Population

50-60 Years Ago 36,000,000

Current 880,000

The report concludes that these wildlife rehabilitators are providing a glimpse into the tangible, local effects of climate change [04:15].

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrVoSO5rETo

'Don’t let hedgehogs die out’ warning amid heatwave risk

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