During the summer, many thoughtful gardeners put out bowls of water or fill bird baths to help wildlife stay hydrated. It's a simple act of kindness that can make a real difference during hot weather – but without a few precautions, these well-meaning water sources can also become dangerous, posing a drowning risk to small animals.
And it's not just the water we intentionally provide. Our gardens are full of places where thirsty wildlife may stop for a drink – only to find themselves unable to get back out.
Garden ponds, swimming pools and water butts are obvious hazards, but even something as innocuous as a watering can or a bucket can turn into a trap when an animal slips inside and inevitably struggles to scale the steep, smooth sides.
It's a problem many gardeners have been highlighting on social media this summer, with some sharing cautionary tales of the wildlife they've rescued.
Bedfordhshire hobby gardener Chris Denton knows just how easily accidents can happen.
“I was in the greenhouse planting out my propagations and I thought I could hear something banging against the greenhouse," he tells Country Living. "But then I realised it was something in the water butt by the greenhouse; it was a small squirrel."
Knowing the frightened animal might lash out, Chris carefully lifted it to safety using a pond net. Inspired, he secured his pond with a rock 'ladder' to help small animals climb out.
How to prevent animals drowning in your garden
To minimise the drowning risk this summer, Country Living asked a wildlife expert for the best ways to make a garden safer while still offering animals much-needed water.
Ensure there is an escape route
The simplest way to help is by equipping bowls, bird baths and barrels with a way to get out.
"Every water source in your garden should be equipped with an escape route that can be used if an animal were to get stuck," says Lucy Taylor, a wildlife expert from Vine House Farm. "This could be something as simple as ensuring a pond has sloped sides or an exit ramp."
For smaller containers, a sturdy stick placed so that it reaches above the rim can provide enough grip for insects and small mammals to get to safety.
Add landing spots
Next to providing ramps, it's also recommended to add little 'islands' for wildlife to rest. "In ponds and bird baths, placing sturdy, floating debris such as thick branches or heavy stones ensures that wildlife has a safe place to land," says Lucy.
"These can also be used by other animals to keep themselves above the water if they fall in."
Secure containers and pools
Larger bodies of water like ponds, water butts and pools, should be secured when not in use. "They should be covered or fenced off. Ensure that covers are secure and fit properly without sagging in the middle," the wildlife expert urges.
"If you have a water butt, this should be covered with a sturdy lid to stop animals falling in and stop the water from being contaminated."
Store tools responsibly
Empty gardening equipment can become hazardous, too, even when they don't contain water at first. "Do not leave buckets standing upright in your garden, as they can easily trap rainwater and animals can fall inside," Lucy says.
"Store them upside down to prevent water accumulating inside. Similarly, lay watering cans on their side so that animals are able to escape."
You can also cover the filling hole when the watering can isn't in use. A handy trick? The black rose from many classic plastic watering cans fits neatly over the opening, preventing animals from climbing inside in the first place.
Summer gardening edit
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Wanda Sachs is the Multiplatform Writer for Country Living and House Beautiful, exploring the latest in gardening, wildlife and sustainable living alongside interiors and property. She is particularly interested in human-interest stories, the intersection of design and pop culture, and the evolving relationship between urban and rural life. Previously, she served as Associate Editor at The Berliner in Berlin, where she reported on culture and fashion. Wanda studied English and German at the Goethe University Frankfurt and Exeter University.
