A Hotter Summer, A Harder Life: How Another Warm Year Could Impact UK Wildlife If 2026 turns out as warm as forecasts suggest, the effects won’t just be felt by people—they’ll ripple across ecosystems. In the UK, wildlife is already having to adapt to a warming climate, but another unusually hot year could push many species closer to their limits. Heat stress and habitat strain For many animals, especially those adapted to cooler, wetter conditions, prolonged heat is a direct threat. Species like the European hedgehog and European badger can struggle during extended hot, dry spells. Hedgehogs, in particular, face dehydration as soils harden, making it difficult to find insects. Badgers may be forced to range further for food, increasing energy stress and human-wildlife conflict. Meanwhile, rivers and ponds shrink or warm, reducing oxygen levels. This puts pressure on aquatic species like the brown trout, which require cool, well-oxygenated water to survive. Disrupted breedin...
An Intimate Guide to British Wildlife