Global warming is the single biggest threat to wildlife today.
Watch this video to learn more about the devastating impact that global warming is having on wildlife and their habitat.
Wildlife are affected by changes in temperature
Lisa and Mike Husar/ www.teamhusar.com
Polar Bear: As the ice literally melts out from under their feet, the future for polar bears is becoming increasingly bleak. By 2050, two-thirds of the world's polar bears could be gone, and all of the polar bears in Alaska, due to global warming.
Gary Schultz/ www.agpix.com/garyschultz
Moose: Adapted to cold temperatures, moose are being stressed by increased temperatures. In northwestern Minnesota, increased temperatures resulted in a population crash from 4,000 animals in the mid-1980s to 300 in 2003.
Alan D. Wilson
Gray Jay: Some species rely on cold temperatures to keep their food from spoiling. The gray jay caches food for its young. As temperatures rise and the food spoils, the gray jay doesn’t have enough food for their nestlings.
NWF
Coral Reefs: Rising ocean temperatures have already caused massive coral bleaching, or the death of coral reefs, leading to catastrophic collapse of these ecosystems which sustain huge numbers of fish.
Photodisc
Forests: High temperatures and drought lead to the death of millions of pinyon pines in the Southwest. Bark beetles, an invasive insect, thrive in these warmer temperatures and destroy the forests. It has also resulted in four times the number of major fires that were experienced two decades ago.
Wildlife need clean, cold, fresh water
Michael Durham/ www.durmphoto.com
Trout and Salmon: In 2007, Yellowstone National Park officials were forced to implement a record number of fishing restrictions to help protect trout stressed by high stream temperatures and drought-associated low water flows. Trout and salmon require cold water to survive.
Dave Menke, USFWS
Coastal Fish and Birds: Scientists say America’s coasts will be inundated by 7-23 inches of water this century. Coastal fish and wildlife depend on a certain level of salinity in water. They have adapted to a delicate balance between fresh and salt water. If freshwater areas are flooded with too much salt water, the plants and wildlife may not survive.
Wildlife are affected by scarcity of food
Digital Vision
Adélie penguins: They do not have enough krill shrimp to eat. As Antarctic sea ice melts, it changes the water quality, making it less conducive to krill survival.
Garth McElroy/ www.featheredfotos.com
Migrating birds: Global warming impacts the food of migrating birds. Birds time their migrations to when plants bloom or insects hatch. They can eat as they migrate and find food for their chicks when they arrive. But birds migrate only to find that the insects, plants, or other foods they eat are not available. Caterpillars hatch before the leaves of their food plants are present. Pollinators such as hummingbirds and bees arrive either too early or too late to feed on the flowers on which they normally rely.
Wildlife can’t find places to raise their young
Cliff Beittel/ www.agpix.com/cliffbeittel
Ducks: In the central US, there is an area called the Prairie Pothole region. The wetlands here are small and seasonal. Some call it a “duck factory” because so many ducks migrate through it. But global warming has the potential to eliminate up to 91 percent of wetlands in the region. This will dramatically impact many species of ducks and geese.
Photodisc
Monarch Butterflies: In some areas, global warming is going to increase the frequency and intensity of storms. This is impacting the fragile Mexican cloud forests where monarch butterflies migrate each year. They are adapted to live in very specific trees each winter, and increased rain is making it unsuitable for monarchs.
Digital Vision
Walruses: Global warming is impacting species which raise their young on sea ice. For example, walrus mothers put their calves on sea ice. They then dive down to feed on the ocean floor. The natural movement of the sea ice normally ensures walruses do not deplete one area of food. When they put their young on land, they destroy their food sources in that area.
Our Every Day Actions Can Help Wildlife
We can also make a difference in our daily choices. Scientists suggest that if we reduce our emissions by 80% in the next 40 years, we can protect people and wildlife. Reducing energy use by 2% per year is an achievable goal and by taking the Good Neighbor pledge, you can help.
