For Immediate release: 28 March 2010

Feed The Birds …And The Hedgehogs!

SPCA AUCKLAND SAYS WILDLIFE AT RISK FROM PROLONGED DROUGHT

SPCA Auckland has called on animal lovers to remember the plight of birds and other wildlife on the North Island’s drought-afflicted northern half.

“Although most of us humans have enjoyed the sustained warm, dry weather, the resulting drought is having a severe impact on many of our animal friends, and particularly on wild creatures that don’t have humans to tend for them,” says Executive Director, Bob Kerridge.

“It’s not just water that’s in short supply. The bugs they feed off are also dying, which means that birds and small animals are going hungry as well as thirsty,” he says.

Mr Kerridge asks animal lovers to leave saucers of water for the birds, with more than one saucer put out on larger properties. Bread crumbs, birdseed and food scraps would also be a great help.

Hedgehogs, he adds, are suffering badly, both from the lack of both water and the shortage of bugs and would also benefit from food and saucers of water being left out.

“A caller from near Warkworth has reported seeing seven or eight hedgehogs either dead or dying over a period of just three days. And we’ve received other, similar reports from elsewhere in the region. So we must do what we can to keep them fed and watered.

“Because thirsty hedgehogs go searching for water, they often end up floating helplessly in swimming pools. As they can’t swim, they are likely to die, if pool owners don’t keep an eye out for them and fish them out as soon as possible.

“It’s also obviously important to ensure that dogs, cats and other companion animals have sufficient clean, fresh water during the prolonged dry period,” he says, adding that water and feed are similarly important for tethered goats, many of which are currently without adequate grazing.

Bob Kerridge’s concerns are shared by West Auckland wildlife rehabilitator, Lynn Macdonald, who reports seeing a marked increase in animals on the roads, trying to eat the refuse that humans throw out of cars.

“I’ve also seen large numbers of birds looking fluffed-up and not too well, because they’re not getting enough food or water. So, please keep putting food and water out for them and remember to keep the water in a shallow dish or saucer, so that birds and small animals can get to it,” she says.

“You won’t need to do this for ever, just for the next few weeks until we get a decent lot of rain,” Lyn Macdonald adds.

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