This July has brought exceptionally warm weather, with temperatures often reaching 28°C in West Cork. While many, me included, have welcomed the sunshine, prolonged hot and dry conditions can place real strain on some of our local wildlife, even as others appear to benefit. Many plants and animals have evolved ways to cope with heat, but with climate change likely to make such events more frequent, intense, and longer lasting, it is worth considering the impacts and what, if anything, we can do to help more vulnerable species.

Hot and dry conditions

Hedgehogs and badgers are particularly at risk during heatwaves. Extended dry spells reduce the activity of their main prey, including earthworms, slugs, and snails. As the ground hardens, earthworms and other invertebrates retreat deeper in search of moisture, making them difficult to reach. Hedgehogs, badgers, and birds alike can struggle to access food, and many also find it difficult to locate sufficient water to stay hydrated. At peak temperatures, you may have noticed rooks appearing to pant. Unlike humans, most animals cannot sweat to cool down. Instead, some birds, including owls, pigeons, herons, and corvids, use a process known as gular fluttering. They rapidly vibrate the muscles in their throats with their mouths open, increasing evaporation from the respiratory tract and helping to regulate body temperature. Others simply hold their beaks open in an attempt to cool down. Many species also avoid foraging during the hottest part of the day, although this reduces feeding time and can be especially challenging when they are raising young. Bats are also vulnerable during hot spells. In Ireland, they tend to use south-facing roosts, which can become excessively warm. When temperatures rise too high, they may be forced to leave their roosts during the day in search of water, increasing their vulnerability.

Water woes

Lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams are already under pressure from pollution, and hot, dry weather can intensify these problems. Water levels fall, temperatures rise, and dissolved oxygen declines, all of which can affect fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates. In extreme cases, water bodies may dry out completely, leaving aquatic species stranded without the conditions they need to survive. Ireland has already lost 258,800 hectares of wetland since 1990 due to drainage and land reclamation. With so much of this habitat gone, restoring wetlands will be essential in building resilience to climate change.

Stressed sea life

It is not only freshwater systems that are affected. During the recent warm evenings, I took my two sons to Tráigh Liceach, a shallow sandy beach at low tide. As we paddled, we noticed hundreds of dead and dying lugworms. The hot conditions appear to have contributed to a local die-off. Lugworms are sensitive to rising water temperatures and to algal blooms, both of which can accompany warm weather. They live in burrows beneath the sand, leaving behind the familiar coiled casts on the surface. Feeding on organic matter and microorganisms within the sediment, they play a significant role in coastal ecosystems. Hot weather may be ideal for beach visits, but it does not suit all marine life.

Weather winners

Not all wildlife suffers during hot, dry spells. At the temperatures we have experienced recently, butterflies appear to be thriving. Reports from across West Cork suggest strong numbers of species such as the painted lady and meadow brown. Gatekeeper butterflies, which have disappeared dramatically across much of their previous range, have been a particularly welcome sight locally in recent weeks. It is encouraging to see them doing well in West Cork. This also looks to be a particularly strong year for painted ladies. These remarkable butterflies migrate from Sub-Saharan Africa, producing multiple generations as they move northwards to Ireland. Another migrant, the clouded yellow, which is usually only seen here in small numbers, has also been more abundant in the past two years. Like the painted lady, they seem to be benefiting from the warmer conditions, both along their migration routes and here in Ireland.

Helping hand

The ways that we can help wildlife in the face of extreme weather are limited, but there are some simple steps that can be taken in our gardens. Planting trees and allowing areas of long grass and wildflowers to grow provides shade and shelter. Flowering plants in cooler, shaded spots offer valuable resources for bees and other insects. Consider avoiding trimming hedges as these too can provide shade. A regularly cleaned and topped up bird bath can help birds stay cool and hydrated, while shallow dishes of water can support hedgehogs and other mammals. If it is an option, creating a garden pond is one of the most beneficial actions you can take, offering habitat and water for a wide range of species.

Things to avoid

As well as helping where we can, it is important not to make matters worse. During hot, dry weather, vegetation becomes highly flammable. For much of July, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have issued a Condition Orange warning for high fire risk. The damage caused by disposable barbecues in places such as Killarney National Park is a stark reminder of the danger, and these should not be used. Avoid lighting fires or carrying out activities that could ignite dry vegetation, dispose of cigarettes carefully, and report any wildfires immediately to the emergency services. For now, our wildlife shows both resilience and vulnerability, with clear winners and losers. How this balance shifts in the coming years will depend on how frequent and severe these heat events become.

Butterflies are benefiting from this warm summer weather, one of several migratory clouded yellow butterflies seen in Skibbereen. (Photo: Ann Haigh)