Bowl of water on the balcony, run and pick it up immediately: a measure that saved millions of lives
A bowl of water placed on the balcony can save your life on many occasions. That is why each of us should have this good habit.
Simply place a container of water on the balcony to help bees, birds and stray animals, especially during extremely hot days .
One is enough, even two if you have space, to save the lives of several animals that face weeks of intense heat, which is testing them this year like never before.
The importance of the water bowl outside the balcony
In cities, towns and the countryside, animals cannot find the adequate amount of water that their bodies also need to quench their thirst. Both humans and animals can survive without food for a few days, but not without water. While man somehow manages to occupy himself, animals cannot.
The underlying problem is drought , due to the high temperatures of recent weeks it is impossible to find water almost everywhere. This means that the lives of many animals are at enormous risk.
All of us could do what we can to help them by limiting the damage to a minimum . What can be done creates absolutely no discomfort or problem. Outside the door of the house, in a window or on any balcony, all you have to do is place a container with water, which must be kept under control because it can quickly run out due to the high temperatures that cause it to evaporate .
For bees, all you need is a waterer, a very small bowl, with a little water inside and that’s it. The bee waterer can be purchased ready-made or you can try making it at home. For bees, any container with water is not good, because being small they can drown. For other animals that have a terrace or balcony, it is better to place the bowl between the plants. A small, rigid plastic or metal bowl is fine, as are glass jars that are harder to move with a simple breath of wind.
How and where to place the water bowl.
If the house is on the ground floor, the bowl can be left in front of the door of the house, in the middle of the street, probably more easily accessible for any animal. It is recommended to place the bowls in a position that allows visibility from the street. Alternatively, if there is a street particularly frequented by animals, whether dogs or cats, more bowls can be placed to help and rescue more animals in difficulty.
It is good to remember that you obviously have to change the water every day, both because you run the risk of inadvertently creating the ideal habitat for mosquitoes, which can easily lay their eggs in it, and because after several hours it is no longer good.
Because these water bowls could become dangerous
These bowls, which at first are exclusively the result of a courtesy gesture, can become a serious danger to the health of four-legged friends . If they are clean bowls the problem arises halfway, the risk of transmitting infections and diseases from animal to animal is slightly lower.
However, if these are water bowls that have never been washed, changed and therefore neglected over time, the risk of transmitting diseases becomes really high. The container placed outside, after a while, becomes a receptacle for bacteria and viruses that in some cases can even be lethal. So, if you really want to help animals, it is a good idea to wash the bowl every day, or at most use disposable containers to change them often and nip the problem in the bud .
Warning for pet owners
When you go out for a walk with your pet, in summer it is a good idea to carry a bottle of water with you so that the animal can cool off if necessary , avoiding using these water bowls.
The community water fountains on the streets are designed for stray animals and not for owned animals. It is also recommended to go out in the cooler hours of the day. In the absence of water, the animal, like man, can easily resist, obviously not for a long time, without putting its health or life at risk . Drinking from communal bowls is certainly more dangerous.