French environmental groups call for hunting suspension amid severe drought

Environmental groups and political organizations in France are calling for the suspension or postponement of the upcoming hunting season due to extreme drought and record-breaking heatwaves.

The Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO) has requested that the early opening of waterfowl hunting, scheduled for August 21, 2026, be postponed until the general opening on September 20. The LPO warns that intense drought has caused widespread soil drying and left approximately 43% of watercourses dry or without flow. This scarcity forces wildlife, including both game birds and protected species like storks and herons, to concentrate in dwindling water points, making them highly vulnerable to disease and hunting.

Simultaneously, the Parti animaliste has issued an open letter to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and relevant ministers demanding a full suspension of the 2026-2027 hunting season. The party cites climate data, including June 2026 being the hottest month on record in France, as evidence that ecosystems are under unprecedented stress. They argue that the combination of heat and water scarcity creates a “double penalty” for wildlife, increasing mortality rates among young animals and disrupting natural behaviors.