Wildfires a concern for animals as well
May 11th, 2007 by admin
With large portions of our state covered with a smoky haze, it is not surprising that health officials are recommending that people downwind of fire stay indoors to minimize smoke inhalation. But as today’s Ocala Star-Banner reminded its readers, companion animals are also vulnerable “because they are no different from people when it comes to respiratory problems.”
Although crews are fighting dozens of fires across the state, wildlife experts are not expecting to see many animal casualties. Slow-moving animals like snakes may perish, and animals that are nesting this month, such as turkeys, will loose eggs. But most wild animals will survive. Deer, bears, wild pigs and most birds are able to escape the flames and heat. Other animals, like rodents or the gopher tortoise can hide underground (the tortoise’s burrow provides a safe shelter for other animals during fires, such as raccoons and frogs).
In fact, fires can be beneficial to maintaining a healthy ecosystem, by clearing out overgrown vegetation and encouraging some plants and trees to grow. An article in today’s Daytona Beach News-Journal mentioned that Florida’s scrub jay, “likes to nest in areas prone to frequent wildfires . . . because the fires encourage growth of acorns, a major food source.”