It has been the warmest winter on record, and we’ve seen many people on social media commenting on the early return of birds from the south this year. As we navigate the season known as “false spring”, wildlife is also being impacted.
Hibernating animals rely on temperature cues to know when to wake up. Ontario has already issued an advisory about bears emerging from hibernation early. https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1004252/be-bear-wise-to-prevent-bear-encounters
Insects are also emerging early, including those normally associated with summer like honeybees and mosquitoes. The warmer temperatures also provide the right environment for ticks to become active. People have already begun to report finding ticks on their dogs after running through tall grass and bushes, a concerning finding as Lyme’s disease from ticks continues to be a major health risk in Canada.
As wildlife emerges from their winter slumber early, they face a major challenge – finding food. It’s too early for their natural foods to be available. For example, berries are a large part of a bear’s diet, but there are no berries growing yet in March. It forces animals to seek other food sources like homes and garbage. Geese that are returning early may not be able to find the grasses they need for food. Because plants and trees are blossoming early, this could lead to a shortage of food in the fall when animals are preparing for winter.
While plants are also flowering earlier than normal, nectar and pollen aren’t available for bees. A 2023 study from Sweden’s Lund University shows bumblebee queens are ending their hibernation earlier because of climate change. Queens are the only bees that survive throughout winter by hibernating, after which they fly to find a nest where they can lay eggs and start a colony. According to the study, the rising temperatures are what’s driving bees to wake up earlier—an average of five days earlier than 20 years ago. Researcher Maria Blasi Romero says the phenomenon increases the risk of losing additional bumblebee species and having less pollination of crops and wild plants. The university added that we can help pollinators by preserving natural grasslands, mowing roadsides later in the season after the flowering period, and designing flower strips and hedges in a way that favors pollinators.
The plants themselves are also at risk. As we well know in the 705 – cold snaps and storms can cause frost damage or even death. Plants also become more susceptible to certain pests that may emerge earlier than usual, or experience water stress due to accelerated snowmelt or early spring droughts. It’s also not good news for allergy sufferers as the usual culprits – ragweed, grasses, some trees, and flowers – become abundant and produce more pollen.
Another big concern is wildlife being active on our roads. Spring is often accompanied by high rates of road mortality involving reptiles such as turtles as they hatch, mate, nest or seek food or warmth. Many of these animals that are killed by traffic are also at-risk species in Ontario. Motorists should be extra cautious when driving near wetlands, rivers, lakes, and ponds.
There are other long-term consequences of early spring like the ground drying out earlier, causing serious problems for farmers. That can raise prices at the grocery store due to depleted crops. Dry ground and foliage also greatly increase the risk of wildfires, as we saw across Canada last year.
While many of us in the 705 are about to receive another spate of snow and chilly temperatures, the harm to our local environment and wildlife may have already begun.
