Deadly Wildfires Permanently Changing Arizona’s Desert Forest Wildlife Habitats?

from Wildlife Promise



America’s worst wildfire-fighting tragedy in generations struck on Sunday as 19 firefighters were killed near Yarnell, Arizona. The impacts of the firestorm on wildlife and ecosystems will take much longer to add up, but scientists say there’s evidence the intense flames could permanently alter a landscape already being changed by global warming.

It’s unclear exactly what happened in the firefighters’ final moments. But with temperatures well above 100 degrees, low humidity and winds gusting to 24 miles an hour, authorities say neither planned escape routes nor emergency shelters could save the elite “hotshot” firefighters from disaster:




The fire has already destroyed 50 homes and threatens 250 others. Our hearts go out to all of the victims and their families as we try to understand this terrible tragedy.

Climate Connection

As Dr. Amanda Staudt, National Wildlife Federation climate scientist, has reported, global warming is fueling more intense wildfires. These wildfires are covered in climate change’s fingerprints:

President Obama unveiled a plan last week to cut climate pollution and help speed adaptation to the changes we’re already seeing. But for some areas, it may already be too late.

Habitats Forever Changed?

According to a new report from researchers at Oregon State University, the combination of intense fire and changing climate means some areas may never fully recover:

On a global scale, the effects of climate change manifest gradually—oceans rise by millimeters a year, carbon concentrations edge upward in increments of parts per million. But sometimes, when conditions in a certain area reach and breach a climatic “tipping point,” the effects can be abrupt, and transformations can occur rapidly.

If a region has warmed—and dried—above a certain level, fire can act as such a tipping point. Because of overgrowth and drought, many of the fires seen today are larger and more intense than those observed a decade or two ago. Sometimes, rather than simply clearing canopies, underbrush and the older, less healthy trees, these fires wipe out entire sections of forest.

After trees have been cleared, other, more drought-adapted species are able to outcompete new ponderosa seeds and saplings.

Extremely intense wildfires can also cause long-term damage. “Very hot, long-burning fires damage soils by burning organic matter, breaking down soil structure, and reducing water  retention,” writes Dr. Doug Inkley, National Wildlife Federation Senior Scientist.

Mexican Gray Wolf. Photo by Jim Clark/US FWS.

Mexican Gray Wolf. Photo by Jim Clark/US FWS.

Wildlife in Peril

The area is home to Tonto National Forest, America’s 5th-largest national forest where dozens of endangered, threatened and sensitive species live, including Bald Eagles, Mexican Gray Wolves and Desert Bighorn Sheep. Some large birds and animals can outrun a fire, while small mammals and reptiles often try to burrow down to escape the flames.

But this wildfire spun into a monster so fast that even some of America’s best firefighters couldn’t escape it. Even if birds and animals can escape the flames, they face long-term threats to their habitat and food sources, which can take decades to recover.

Water Worries

Even when these fires are extinguished, they can leave a long-term threat to the clean water that people, fish and wildlife depend on. Especially when the soil itself is charred in particularly intense fires, erosion is a constant concern. After New Mexico’s Las Conchas Fire in 2011, intense rainstorms led to major flooding and heavy erosion. Sediment and ash were washed downstream into the Rio Grande, affecting drinking water for Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico.

Take Action ButtonTell President Obama you support his plan to protect our communities and wildlife from the worst impacts of climate change.