Winter weather environmental effects

By Samantha Cantelon

Sue Meech the director and full time volunteer at the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre shows off a Kestrel bird. The center adopted the Kestrel after being in the zoo for 16 years. The Kestrel will be used as a “foster mom” in the spring when baby Kestrels are usually brought in. Photo by Samantha Cantelon

People might not be aware of is how this warm weather is affecting the environment and wildlife.

According to Environment Canada, the area received 57.4 centimetres of snowfall in January 2011.

In January of 2012, the snowfall was an estimated 12.4 centimetres. These snowfall amounts show how mild this winter has been.

This warm weather is creating a sense of confusion for animals that usually hibernate or fly south for the cold winter months. Not only is this weather disorientating animals, it is affecting the water levels that we rely on for spring, said Terry Murphy, the general manager for Quinte Conservation.

“Normally we count on the amount of snow melting and that water running into rivers and filling up the ground water supplies, but now we’re concerned that if we don’t get enough snow in the north and spring rain, we could have a really dry summer,” said Murphy.

Jolanta Kowalski, senior media relations officer for the Ministry of Natural Resources, said, that species like white-tailed deer, fishers and wild turkeys are benefiting from the warm weather because they expend less energy staying warm and travelling when snow is low.

Animals like the wolverine, marten and gray jay may have population declines because of the impacts from southern competitors and pathogens brought on by warm weather, she said.

“Many species are limited during winter for energetic reasons, so warm temperatures tend to remove this limitation. This can lead to higher survival in winter and higher reproduction in spring because of improved body condition,” said Kowalski.

The Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee, which has been in operation for 20 years and helps, rehabilitate animals that have been abandoned, or injured.

“With the warm weather, the water temperatures are warming and the water levels are falling, which in return is causing more botulism cases, which we typically get during the warm season, but now we are getting it throughout the year,” said Sue Meech, director and volunteer at the wildlife centre.

“Global warming is affecting animals in a dramatic way and confusing them with their hibernation rituals,” Meech said.

“As the human population grows, it’s far worse a problem than global warming. People should stop breeding,” she said.

“Kingston is moving out and they’re taking up wetland, and driving animals to the point of extinction.”

“Global warming is killing the animals up north mostly the polar bears and seals and stuff, but down in this neck of the woods it’s people that are killing the animals and the birds.”