All over the world, people are experiencing an extreme weather they have ever known. Record temperatures are being seen across the globe, and each year it gets a little worse.
Temperatures have reached such highs that wildlife is in danger. It has gotten so bad, in fact, that naturalists are urging public to take steps to help and protect wildlife.
What is happening to the wildlife?
All over the world, wildlife is suffering and even dying from exposure to extreme temperatures. In Britain especially, it has become a big problem.
At a nature reserve in Kent last Summer, for example, there was an occurrence of a bird literally falling out of the sky. The bird, a chaffinch, died from heat exhaustion. This, of course, is not a natural occurrence, but is instead a warning of how bad the circumstances have really gotten.
In some parts of the world, extreme temperatures are pretty normal. In places like Britain, however, it certainly is not. The animals and other wildlife there are not accustomed to such extreme temperatures, and therefore flora and fauna alike are suffering and even dying due to the crazy weather. On 20 December 2013, the Sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly decided to proclaim 3 March as World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild fauna and flora.
Almost all wildlife is suffering due to the record temperatures. The consequences are water droughts and the reduction of food sources, adding to the danger that animals face besides just the suffering climate.
What can be done?
Due to the heat, the majority of issues are due to water shortages. Many ponds have evaporated due to the heat and sun. Berries and other vegetation dry and shrivel up so there is little to no food. Even the worms in the ground dig deeper into the earth to search for moisture, making it harder for some animals to dig up bugs to eat.
In Winter, on the other hand, many animals just die for the exposure to such cold temperatures, especially in places where extreme cold is not normal.
If you are experiencing excessively extreme weather where you live, you might employ a few of these ideas at your home as well. Anything you can do to help the wildlife around you survive. If you have questions, you can contact your nearest wildlife preserve or even animal hospitals for advice on what you can do to help your surrounding wildlife survive the weather.