Heat and drought put Carinthia’s wildlife under severe strain

Heat and drought are placing severe stress on wildlife in Carinthia, particularly small animals and insects in low-lying areas, ORF reported. In the mountains, rising temperatures are disrupting the biological rhythms of alpine wildlife such as marmots.

Rainfall has failed and the soil is extremely dry, leaving many natural meadow plants barely able to flower. This is making it much harder for young birds, hedgehogs and many insects to find food.

People with gardens and balconies can help by putting out water in a shallow bowl, said Alexios Wiklund, a spokesman for the Austrian Animal Welfare Association. He also recommended allowing small sections of lawn to grow instead of mowing them, which would help wild bees and butterflies.

Marmots in Upper Carinthia are particularly affected by climate change because they are shortening the time they spend feeding, Wiklund said. When temperatures become too high, they retreat into their cool burrows and stop eating. As a result, they may not build up enough reserves for their exceptionally long winter hibernation, which can last up to seven months.

Marmots, snow hares and chamois are not accustomed to rising temperatures. Little can be done to address the problem, Wiklund said, because the animals already live in high alpine terrain and cannot move higher to find cooler conditions.