Changing Wildlife Patterns

[jyoutz]

We used to have a lot of porcupines in the pine forests in Colorado. You could always see a few on a hike. We had to teach the dogs to leave them alone - and a quilling often meant a trip to the vet.
I haven't seen a porcupine now in 30 years or more, and our vet says he hasn't either.

When we took a cross-country trip last year it was surprising how few dead animals we saw by the roadside. It used to be sadly common. Now I have to wonder if not seeing so many is the real sadness.

Along with that, we used to see jackrabbits everywhere in the sagebrush. We still walk those same fields, but there are no jackrabbits. I would have thought they could survive anywhere.

Summer fireflies are just a memory. There are obviously less insects. Less frogs & toads, too.

We do see a few more of the predators than we used to have. Mink, herons, mountain lions, owls, bears, eagles...even weasels - there is often a weasel or skuk around. Which makes me wonder if the predators are becoming bold from necessity, or are their numbers actually higher. Don't know which.

We don't (yet) have the problems with hogs and rats that afflict some areas. Glad of that.

My own opinion is that a healthy wild population is a good thing, and starts with a healthy insect population. That's not an original thought, but certainly worth thinking on.

rScotty

My son who is a wildlife biologist told me that rabbits in the west have been affected by a viral disease for the past decade and that’s why their populations are low.

 

[jaxs]

I'm not claiming this to be the answer to your question but since you are interested I think you will find it interesting to read about "keystone species".
Over the years I've heard roadrunners blamed for raiding nests of ground nesting birds. Decline of bob white corresponded to increase of roadrunners in Texas.

I never saw nor heard of a mountain lion in N. Central Texas before 2010 but 5 have appeared since. It is legal to kill them and afik all were soon killed. Higher numbers showed up as you go South but they to were killed.

Saw my first Painted Bunting in Summer of 2023,it returned 2024 so I have my fingers crossed for this Summer.

Never any until about 2015 and river otter have become increasingly abundant. From the time fish carcasses are noticed on bank they kill fish population in a farm pond within months then move on.

 

[Eagle1]

Amphibians have been in decline across North America for over a decade. Disease? I haven’t heard the reason, but Alex Jones’s gay frogs hypothesis sounds a little crackpot.

Not gay but Atrazine is been shown to impact amphibian reproduction.
Atrazine induces complete feminization and chemical castration in male African clawed frogs (Xenopus laevis) - PMC

 

[Thomas]

My area rabbits and ruffle grouse very very seldom seen,but the deer turkeys bears bobcats are doing very well,could it be due to lot of posted land.

 

[dj1701]

I live in western NY south of Buffalo. Since moving here to this new property, I have seen a bunch of change that I think I had a lot to do with.

When I moved here the people, I bought the house from were retired and obviously enjoyed mowing. The vast manicured lawn and pristine ponds were the selling point for me. I soon realized one of my days off were going to be set aside for yard Maintenace. I Used to like to mow, but it soon became a chore. Over the years I have left large areas of grass go back to field.

I had huge population of frogs in my two ponds but hardly hear them anymore. Bats were plentiful then disappeared. Now just last year I am seeing them again. Deer are a big problem here, just ask my garden.


Wildlife that I have witnessed since letting Mother nature come back in are.

Bluebirds: Never saw one in my 60 years in NY, now they are all over my property.
Bald Eagles: Don't see them often but they are here now.
Green Herons: Never saw one before until two years ago, now I have at least two nesting pairs.
Swallows: I had barn swallows all along, but now I have tree swallows and rough winged swallows. No problems with bugs around here, the day bats take care of most of them.
Northern Harrier: They nest on the ground, so not mowing the front field has given them the habitat they needed. Never saw them around here either.
Fireflies: Always had them but now they are so much more prevalent in the natural areas then the mowed areas.
Ducks: Always had a couple of Mallards around, but now it's Wood ducks, Mergansers, Buffleheads, Oh my! Geese were an issue, but now they seem to be in decline, at least on my ponds.

Anyway, I have more time to enjoy the wildlife, and more wildlife to enjoy.

Dave

 

[scootr]

My son who is a wildlife biologist told me that rabbits in the west have been affected by a viral disease for the past decade and that’s why their populations are low.

I read that about the rabbits but it's not killing them off enough for me... they destroyed my lawn last winter. Ate it down to the dirt and then dug up the roots to eat.
Good riddance to the furry little bast*rds...

 

[hayden]

My own opinion is that a healthy wild population is a good thing, and starts with a healthy insect population.one way of looking at wildlife change patterns is the decline in the lower food chain: insects. from there, it always changes
RScotty

yes, makes sense, hadn't thought it in that way. food chain.
so the next question is: what new or evasive wildlife will you see in your region as a result of what RScotty mentions?

The food chain is a major factor, perhaps the primary factor. And that often links directly to changes in habitat.

How much has the make up of your landscape changed over the years? Any fields turning back to forests, for example? That has changed the habitat in Vermont and many other places quite a bit over the past 100+ years. We have had some large tree loss events that open up land, and not long after grouse and snow shoe hair start to show up. Birds of prey are also drawn to more open spaces.

The big thing I've noticed over the years is the almost complete disappearance of black flies, and a significant reduction in mosquitoes. Both are a good riddance for me, but also reduce the food supply for birds, bats, etc.

 

[ChiefBodie]

The fingerprints of human intervention in nature are all over this thread. One shot a beaver, another the entire population of mountain lions, and so on. Nature always has a little change going on but what I am reading here is a lot of man caused change. And as one person wrote, man is also taking away their habitat. You can't alter one part of the food chain without it affecting others.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

We have a lot of deer, not uncommon to see 10 in the back yard during the afternoon hours. We routinely find shed antlers in the lawn. Lots of frogs, bats, snakes and the like. We have fox, coyote, wild turkey and bald eagles on the property too... Some days it's like living in a Disney animal movie. The deer will come to the front porch! Add in racoons, possum, skunks, geese...

We have watched two bucks fight during the rut, while standing over our septic tank, as we sat in the dining room. It's like they don't know we exist. We have a pair of fawns that are kept on property each spring. I've had to mow around them more than once

 

[scootr]

The fingerprints of human intervention in nature are all over this thread. One shot a beaver, another the entire population of mountain lions, and so on. Nature always has a little change going on but what I am reading here is a lot of man caused change. And as one person wrote, man is also taking away their habitat. You can't alter one part of the food chain without it affecting others.

Your simple existence alters nature....you require food, shelter, and power production which changes habitat.