Texas drought takes toll on wildlife – Sections of major rivers have dried up completely
By John Burnett
26 August 2011
The unfolding calamity that is the Texas drought has thrown nature out of balance. Many of the wild things that live in this state are suffering. Sections of major rivers — like the Brazos, the Guadalupe, the Blanco, Llano and Pedernales — have dried up. In many places, there aren’t even mud holes anymore. “The drought is hammering Texas,” says Cindy Loeffler, the water resources branch chief at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. “Usually we don’t see impacts to fish and wildlife, they’re adapted to hot, dry conditions in Texas. But this year, we’re seeing impacts.” Starting at the coast, the lack of rain means low flowing rivers are not putting enough fresh water into coastal estuaries and bays. The resulting hyper salinity has allowed disease and predators to decimate this year’s oyster crop. Moving inland, the brutal heat has dried up puddles, ponds and artesian springs. So the mosquitoes that normally thrive in the Texas summer are noticeably absent in many areas. Though people are glad the mosquitoes are gone, bats depend on them. “Here in Austin we have the largest urban colony of bats,” Loeffler says. “They have been having to work overtime to find enough to eat. They’ve been coming out earlier in the evening and they’re out later in the morning.” Across town at the Wildlife Rescue shelter, people are bringing in distressed creatures all day. Susan Edwards, manager of Wildlife Rescue, stands next to a dozen sickly baby squirrels. “The mothers don’t even have enough water to make milk,” Edwards says. “So they’re pushing their babies outa the nest sooner, and they have to give their children up to death, because they cannot survive themself.” There are reports the same thing is happening to deer – does abandoning their fawns to save themselves. […]
