As a heat wave grips San Diego County, wildlife is struggling to find water and shade. Experts urge residents to help by providing safe water sources.
SAN DIEGO — As the heat wave continues, people are flocking to beaches and pools to cool off. As for wildlife, it’s a different story.
“They are feeling the heat just as much as we are,” said Ben Martin, wildlife supervisor for Project Wildlife at the San Diego Humane Society. “They are looking for sources of water to drink.”
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“It’s hot. It’s hard,” Martin said. “Much of the world that we have created and urbanized in San Diego has taken away a lot of the shade and water resources they would use.”
Just like us when the sun is high, animals are looking for ways to stay cool.
“They will be in the shade, especially during the peak heat of the day,” Martin said. “They will be trying to beat the heat just like we are.”
That includes larger mammals such as cougars, coyotes and bobcats, which may be resting in shaded areas while temperatures soar.
For hikers, Martin recommends staying on designated trails and avoiding shaded areas off the path.
Smaller wildlife is also struggling to cope with the heat. Birds often seek out water sources for drinking and cooling off, making backyard birdbaths an important resource.
“People put birdbaths out a lot,” Martin said. “That’s a way to offer some relief from the heat.”
And the same goes for insects.
“Bees and other insects are affected by the heat,” Martin said. “They all need water like we do. To cool off, they need to drink water.”
With the heat wave expected to ramp up by the end of the week, Martin says mother nature may need a helping hand.
“The more San Diego County urbanizes and the wild spaces decrease, the more we can give back to animals, the better,” he said.