Photo by Linda Erdie
By Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin
Sanderfoot et al., (2021) A review of the effects of wildfire smoke on the health and behavior of wildlife. Environmental Research Letters, 16 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ac30f6/pdf
Every summer, we are seeing increased frequency and severity of wildfires due to climate change across Canada. While we spend days or even weeks with our windows closed to avoid smoke inhalation and the effects wildfire smoke can have on humans, we may not always consider how wildlife is also affected.
The authors of this literature review were curious about the effects that wildfire smoke has on wildlife. The authors found and summarized 41 relevant studies that detailed the effects that air pollution due to large smoke events, such as wildfires, have on the health and behaviour of wildlife in North America, Australia, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Even though many wildlife are able to detect and avoid wildfires, and benefit from post-fire resources, they are still negatively affected by smoke inhalation. Studies from the fields of veterinary medicine and air pollution toxicology tell us that animals suffer from both sudden and chronic health and behaviour impacts related to smoke inhalation.
Photo by shootthebreeze / Getty Images
Health Impacts
Health impacts can be numerous and devastating for wildlife. Like in humans, wildlife can suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning, leading to confusion and stupor due to insufficient oxygen to the brain. This mental state can then make animals more vulnerable to predation. Acute respiratory distress symptoms include laboured or rapid breathing, wheezing, and panting, and if left untreated, can result in chronic respiratory and cardiovascular health impacts, especially with repeated or long-term exposure to smoke.Exposure to wildfire smoke can also weaken or even alter immune responses in animals, which can leave them vulnerable to increased risk of infections such as pneumonia. Ultimately, the negative health impacts experienced by wildlife could influence population demographic rates, including reproductive success, growth, and even survival.
Behavioural Impacts
Wildfire smoke can also impact wildlife behaviour, including their movements and vocalizations, either due to negative health impacts, stress, or resource availability. Animals may become more agitated, vocalize more, and reduce their activities; or they may vocalize less over time due to smoke events. Changes in habitat may also indirectly affect wildlife populations, for example, smoke limits visibility and creates cooler temperatures. Smoke can affect resource availability either negatively or positively. For example, it can limit prey availability, or on the other hand, mask visuals and scent, making prey animals more vulnerable to predation especially if they are trying to escape wildfires. This shift in predator-prey interactions could impact population and community dynamics long-term. Additionally, increased wildfire frequency and length could alter critical reproduction and migration periods; while some species may adapt their life to these events, others may never adapt to environmental changes.
Photo by Linda Erdie
What does this mean for wildlife conservation?
There isn’t enough research that identifies which species and taxonomic groups are most vulnerable to wildfire smoke so that wildlife conservationists can understand how smoke impacts their health, behaviour, and reproductive/survival strategies. Changes in behaviour can also negatively impact wildlife observations by researchers and conservationists. Monitoring wildlife in fire-prone areas through camera-traps, acoustic recorders, and GPS tags can reveal how wildfires impact wildlife populations. Bringing together ecological and atmospheric research could develop long-term understanding of wildfire effects on wildlife. The severity and frequency of wildfires we are seeing across Canada will require wildlife conservationists to develop a more thorough understanding of how smoke affects wildlife, both short and long-term.
Click here to read the original literature review (in a new window).
About Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin
Dr. Valli Fraser-Celin holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Guelph where she studied human-African wild dog conflict and conservation in Botswana, Africa. Valli has always been interested in the human dimensions of wildlife, in particular, humans’ relationships with large carnivores, she collaborated with the Fur-Bearers on a research project exploring Canadians’ perceptions of and knowledge about wolves. Valli is also passionate about dogs, and advocates for dog welfare through her Instagram @thelivesofwilddogs. In her spare time, she runs a pet pantry at her local community centre for pet guardians experiencing pet food insecurity.
