Climate change is not just affecting the lives of humans, but it is drastically impacting the lives of several animals across the globe. We¡¯ve already seen how it made Polar Bears turn towards cannibalism, and now it is affecting Hedgehogs.
Animal rescue services in the UK have revealed that hedgehogs this year haven¡¯t hibernated this winter due to a warm winter thanks to climate change.?
According to WRAS (Wildlife Rescue Ambulance Service) in East Sussex who look after over 300 hedgehogs during winter, the hedgehogs have been active throughout the winter, and this isn¡¯t good for them or for our ecosystem.
When they¡¯re hibernating, a sudden rise is seen in insect parasites which if consumed by the hedgehogs can make them sick too, and in some cases, prove fatal too.
According to Trevor Weeks, founder of WRAS, ¡°'Until we get to the spring it's difficult to know what's going to happen. If this is the pattern of things to come, we could be seeing major change in how hedgehogs exist in the UK. I think we should be worried about it because it's such a dramatic change.¡±
They have also witnessed frogs being in people¡¯s gardens while they¡¯re expected to be hibernating during this time -- in the mud at the bottom of lakes or in logs under a leaf.?
Trevor has been rescuing creatures for over 34 years and he has never witnessed a change in a climate not allowing an animal to hibernate.?
He further added, ¡°The long term effects are unknown. We don't know the consequences this is going to have on the populations. Fingers crossed it doesn't have too much of a negative impact. The next few months are going to be quite critical.¡±
Animals not hibernating when they should can drastically impact their functioning -- eliminating their access to food or giving them access to food that they don¡¯t normally consume -- food that can harm them too. This also puts them in crosshairs of predators, at a time when they¡¯re disoriented and weak.
As of now, the wildlife rescuers are urging people to not feed the hedgehogs, trying to do some damage control.