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Heat wave in Hesse: Wild bird clinic fights against onslaught!
Current challenges for wild animals in Hesse: Heat wave leads to food shortages and increasing animal admissions to clinics.
Heat wave in Hesse: Wild bird clinic fights against onslaught!
In Hesse the summer heat is felt with full force. The wildlife medicine working group in Giessen has apparently reached its capacity limits. In the first few days of July, 282 wild birds were brought to the clinic in need of urgent medical care and feeding. Particularly affected are young birds, which jump out of their nests too early due to the high temperatures and are often found dehydrated. There is a clear problem here, because many of these animals are specialized insect eaters and suffer from an acute shortage of food, as insects also suffer from heat stress - a phenomenon that is also described in the studies of Animals Around the Globe.
The Giessen district supports wildlife medicine, but the funds are not sufficient to cover the increased demand. In the first six months of the year, around 1,000 wild animals were admitted to the clinic, with around 1,000 to 1,400 animals normally being treated in an entire year. There are particular difficulties with swallows and swifts, which are currently having major problems finding nesting sites. This is clear: nature suffers from these extreme temperatures.
Heat stress in wild animals
The situation for wildlife is alarming. Sustained high temperatures not only lead to acute supply shortages, but also to significant stress reactions in the animals. As Pirsch explains, bodies release increased hormones under stress, which in itself can be important for survival, but if the extreme temperatures persist, this is dangerous. The body can overheat, which puts a strain on the metabolism and leads to a buildup of harmful metabolic products. The kidneys, in particular, have difficulty flushing out toxins, which can lead to serious health problems.
The temperature change in summer has far-reaching consequences. If the values are persistently high, the blood flow to organs, especially the intestines, is impaired. This leads to an increased risk to the health of the animals, including the so-called “leaky gut” problem, where microorganisms and toxins can inadvertently escape from the intestines. The wild animals in Hesse not only face the challenge of finding food, but also the threat of heat-related diseases.
We all have to listen to this situation - because nature is close to our hearts. And even though summer has beautiful aspects, we must not lose sight of the animals and their plight.