A thirsty Echidna after three days of around 43C daytime heat and min. 30C night time temps. 1st Feb 2009, near Yarra Glen, Victoria. This was a record breaking heatwave being three consecutive days above 40C.

Echidnas obtain most of their water needs from the
animals they eat (mainly termites) but they will also occasionally drink from pools or lick droplets of water from plants moistened by dew or rain. Short-beaked Echidnas are typically active in the daytime, however, they are ill-equipped to deal with heat, because they have no sweat glands and do not pant. Therefore, in warm weather they change their pattern of activity, becoming active at dawn or dusk or nocturnal. They can tolerate cold temperatures, and hibernate during the winter in very cold regions.

Unfortunately many possums nesting in tree hollows and house roofs have suffered in this recent heatwave. The RSPCA were inundated with dehydrated possums and other animals. Brushtail possums were seen desperately drinking seawater on coastal beaches.

Heat Stressed Wildlife – What to do: RSPCA

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