By Kevin Foster
It’s quite obvious that we are seeing changes in the world constantly. In the animal world, we are seeing changes due to weather patterns and drought. In mammals, we are seeing mating cycles changing. For instance, we at our animal rescue just received a baby kit raccoon. Mating season for raccoons generally falls between January and June. Most females begin reproducing around age 1. The female has a 65 day gestation period and usually gives birth to 3 to 5 kits in the spring. Receiving a less than two week old raccoon in mid October shows signs that climate change is not only messing with humans, it’s also confusing the animal world. Recent research shows our climate change is also having an impact on turtle nesting sites as it alters the temperature of the sand which then affects whether the hatchlings are male or female. Sea levels are rising and the waters are becoming warmer for longer periods of time. The longer the drought continues, it threatens our crops and freshwater supplies and affects animals from the polar bears in Alaska to the turtles in South Africa.
Right here in the Santa Cruz mountains, we are seeing lots of changes. Some changes I have noticed due to climate variables are how it’s affecting birdlife; birds are laying eggs earlier in the year than usual, and birds that are migrating are arriving at the nesting ground and are showing up much earlier. I’ve seen reports in some countries that the birds don’t even leave any longer due to the climate being sustainable for them all year round.
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With that being said, what are the ways we can help? Oftentimes we can’t change what is happening but we can try to be beneficial in what is taking place. Small things can help in big ways such as artificial watering holes. Small water sources for wildlife have such a great impact that most people don’t take into consideration. Healthy gardens and landscaping also have a great impact on wildlife that most don’t realize; from birds to deer and our pollinators. Bees and butterflies have such a huge impact on the ecosystem. Adding an additional milkweed plant to your garden would unknowingly make a positive impact. Since we can’t fix it all in one big push, if 75% of the world would adapt and help our wildlife with small things now, I believe it would lessen the possibility of extinction for several species in the years to come. Every day is an opportunity to make tomorrow even better.
Photo credit Native Animal rescue, a Racoon kit received October 10, 2021
