Overheated frogs, thirsty foxes and dried dragonflies. It was very hot in Brabant in recent days and not only we are bothered by that. Animals in nature are getting more and more difficult due to climate change. That is why measures are needed so that wild animals can also manage. That is what the Council for Animal Affairs says in a recently published report.
“Streams in Brabant are now due to drought and heat layer such as De Beerze. This flows from medium bears to Boxtel. This means that, for example, beavers can no longer stay on certain parts there,” says forester Frans Kapteijns.
“But also the mud crawler and other fish such as the spiny bass can get into trouble. Frogs and Salamanders are also having a hard time with a drowsy Netherlands.”
According to the forester, they always need a damp environment to survive and there are fewer and fewer. “You also see that birds, cattle, foxes and buns also had spicy in recent days. They look for water spaces, but then they have to be there.”
Wells and connecting zones
The Council for Animal Affairs argues for targeted measures such as the construction of water wells, increasing the groundwater level and the construction of more connecting zones so that animals can also leave if necessary.
Due to the increase in extreme weather, animals cannot prepare and hardly escape floods, heat and drought. This threatens their well -being. Moreover, due to the design of our landscape, it is often difficult for these animals to flee for extreme weather conditions. Then there is, for example, somewhere a fence that they cannot get over or under.
“So it’s not just about heat but extreme weather. In the case of violent floods, animals must also be able to flee. There are also high water refugees in Brabant, but not everywhere,” explains Frans Kapteijns. “Moreover, if the streams go outside their banks, that also gives other problems. Fish eggs are dragged along, fish end up on hiking trails. It has all kinds of nasty consequences.”
Everything is already being done to protect animals. “Hard work is being done in nature reserves. In Brabant you can see that Natuurmonumenten, Brabants Landschap and Staatsbosbeheer and the water boards are already fully engaged in climate adaptation. For example, Poelen is being explored and escape hills are being laid out,” says Frans Kapteijns.
“For example, the Beerze valley on the Kampina has laid out a pelvis where flood water from the Beerze remains and slowly the soil sinks and does not disappear. The area is 50 hectares in size and a paradise for water birds. And that is very nice, but not enough.”
Disconnect rainpipe
According to Kapteijns, climate change is not high on the agenda for every municipality. “Some should really do much more, such as disconnecting rainpipes and collecting water in wadis. Really a missed opportunity,” he says.
The Council for Animal Affairs also wants more to be done. She wants to talk to site managers and come up with solutions for both the short term and long -term. For the short term, this involves the construction of emergency hills on which they can flee at high water, for example, and for the long term they want to implement national sheep adjustments such as the increase of the groundwater level. Nature organizations also participate in this.
Water trays for the birds
The idea is that animals can adjust because of evolution or by moving to other areas. But climate changes are now very fast, so animals can no longer keep up with it.
“People can help make it easier for animals. That is already very simple. This is about putting down trays of water for the birds and creating shelter and shadow spots,” says Frans Kapteijns.