How to protect wildlife during the rainy season?

November 18, 2024

In Bogota and other regions, wildlife faces several challenges during the rainy season. We tell you what you can do so that animals are not affected during the winter season.

The rainy season, landslides and hailstorms affect various species – from birds to reptiles – which are forced to abandon their shelters and seek new spaces, often in urban areas.

This phenomenon has been evidenced by the recent discovery of a savannah snake on the Autopista Norte, a situation that highlights the need for preventive measures and collaboration on the part of citizens to take care of wildlife during the rainy season. Here we tell you what you can do to safeguard wildlife.

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Risks for wildlife during the rainy season

During the rainy season, many species face risky situations. Birds, small mammals and reptiles are the most affected. Swallows, mockingbirds, nightjars, woodcocks and warblers often lose their nests when trees fall due to strong winds or persistent rains. These fallen nests leave the chicks exposed and disoriented, in need of rescue and relocation to a safe environment.

In addition, the burrows of small mammals, such as squirrels and rabbits, may be flooded, forcing them to seek shelter in homes or commercial establishments.

Some snakes, such as snail snakes, also move in search of alternative shelters, and may even end up inside homes or offices. Wildlife in the rainy season requires a suitable environment to protect them from the inclement weather, and it is here where citizen support is vital to prevent damage to these species.

rainy season, wildlife, frog, Más Colombia

Rescue and protection measures for wildlife during the rainy season

To address the risk situations faced by animals in these times, the Bogota Secretariat of Environment has implemented a reporting system through which citizens can report any case of wildlife in the rainy season that requires attention.

If you find an animal at risk, it is crucial to avoid scaring it, throwing objects at it or trying to feed it, as these actions may aggravate its stress. Instead, you, as a citizen, should report the case to the Secretary of the Environment’s phone lines:

(601) 377 88 54
318 7125560
318 8277733
317 4276828
Via WhatsApp, or to Line 123.

These calls trigger a rapid response that allows the group of experts from the Secretariat of Environment to rescue, rehabilitate and eventually reintroduce these animals into their natural habitats.

rainy season, wildlife, plant under the rain, Más Colombia

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The importance of citizen collaboration

The collaboration of citizens is essential to protect wildlife during the rainy season. The Secretariat of Environment calls on citizens to act responsibly and consciously towards these animals, but also to respect their space and not to interfere unnecessarily in their movements.

In many cases, human intervention can cause more harm than good, since it generates additional stress in the animals, which are already in a vulnerable situation due to extreme weather conditions.

rainy season, wildlife, bird in the rain, Más Colombia — How to protect wildlife during the rainy season? 5

Community support not only helps to preserve wildlife, but also helps the city to be better prepared to face the challenges of climate change. Rainy season wildlife is part of urban ecosystems and is essential for maintaining ecological balance, enabling the development of crucial ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control.

Protecting wildlife during the rainy season is a task that involves both environmental authorities and the community. Intense rainfall during this season can pose a threat to animals living in natural and urban environments, but with an adequate and coordinated response it is possible to safeguard the lives of these species and ensure that they continue to play their role in the balance of ecosystems in all regions.