Drought, fire affect region’s wildlife

Are the region’s wildfires cooking wildlife? Generally no, wildlife biologists say. Rather than perish in the flames, critters are more likely to starve later if a harsh winter compounds the impacts of charred winter ranges. “Most of the fires don’t blow up so fast that wildlife can’t go underground or move out of the way,” said Wayne Wakkinen, Idaho Fish and Game’s regional wildlife manager in Coeur d’Alene. “Certainly there’s some short-term stress on animals and some die as they redistribute in response to fire,” said Nate Pamplin, Washington’s Wildlife Program director. “It’s the severity of the fire on the land and how habitat responds after the fire that impacts how it will play out in terms of forage available for deer and elk”/ Rich Landers , Outdoors. More here .