Global Climate Change's Inevitable Impact on Hunters & Wildlife

By Dave Nomsen, PF's Vice President of Government Affairs

pheasant chick

- April 17 -

Hunters are pretty keen observers. We have to read the terrain, wind, sun and a dog's tail to be successful in our pursuit of the elusive ring-necked pheasant. Like hunters, scientists and biologists have been paying close attention to the world's climate and wildlife. I've read the reports, examined the evidence and today I can tell you without hesitation that I am a believer -global climate change is happening.

The proportion of naturally occurring vs. man-made influences on climate change really doesn't concern me. What does concern me are solutions to wildlife habitat problems from hunters since we've always been the leaders in conservation. Our time-tested conservation principles can make a positive impact in the face of this threatening trend.

Teddy Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, John James Audubon, George Bird Grinnell - the list goes on of our nation's leaders who pulled the trigger and were also pillars of the conservation platform we stand on today. The world's climate is changing and we have the tools and know-how to once again lead the way because what we've called wildlife habitat conservation these last 26 years is part of the solution to global climate change.

What We Know

Talk to any old-timer and you'll hear a familiar refrain. "When I was a youngster, we didn't have opossums this far north." They are right. Opossums, raccoons and numerous species of birds have expanded their range in recent decades. The development of these new ranges has already led to changes for other wildlife species. New predators in the north mean more egg predators for pheasants, which means there is a growing need for bigger expanses of grasses. Large grasslands help ground nesting birds hide from predators.

Like animals, plant life has been changing before our eyes as the global temperatures have risen. With an increase in average temps, coupled with and caused in part by more carbon dioxide in the air, we're likely to see invasive plant species like fescue thrive. And, as their name implies, these invasive species have thrown off the natural balance between native warm season and cool season grasses so important to our wildlife habitat complexes.

If you're a pheasant egg, even a one- or two-degree temperature rise or a change in grasses at the nest site can have a big impact on hatching rates. Couple changing microclimates at the nest site with more extreme weather patterns and a hen's ability to pull off a clutch becomes more complicated. Even minor and subtle changes in nest habitat, brood rearing, insect availability, predators and disease can add up to big impacts to our annual crop of pheasants.

Weather and Climate

Increased temperatures of a few degrees when multiplied planet-wide means more extreme and frequent weather events. In other words, wetter-wets, drier-dries, hotter-hots. Historically, when pheasants suffered from a tough winter they bounced back in 2-3 years because of moderating conditions and the bird's high reproductive potential. Unfortunately, under a more dynamic weather system including more frequent droughts and heavy rainfall events, bird populations may suffer and have more difficulty recovering to pre-event levels.

When those conditions become the norm, fall populations are lower, translating into reduced opportunities for hunters. If the population reduction is severe enough, management agencies may be forced into regulations to reduce bag limits and season lengths in places.

These same conditions may also have a bearing on the microclimate at nest sites. Habitats that were once suitable might be slightly less productive while other habitats could prove to be more productive. Higher temperatures can result in reduced hatching rates by causing premature incubation, staggered hatching and by inhibiting re-nesting attempts. Consequently, the end result may be reduced fall population levels.

Climate changes will provide conditions suitable to the spread of non-native plants, animals and insects, potentially upsetting a delicate ecological balance and disrupting the food web. Will pheasants be able to adapt to these climate change impacts? We just don't know. We do know that pheasants are highly resilient and adaptable. The unknown is whether or not they can adapt to higher magnitudes and pace of change in the future as our climate continues its current trend of bringing higher degrees of intensity to weather events across our nation.

After the Hatch

Once nests do hatch, food availability becomes an issue. Many species of birds have exhibited earlier nest initiation dates recently. If hatching dates are altered, the question becomes will adequate food be available, especially high-protein insects critical to the diet of young chicks.

Generally, increased CO2 concentrations means increased plant productivity. Will insect hatches remain in sync with hatching dates? Will plants most beneficial to pheasants and other ground nesting birds be able to "compete" with aggressive invasive plant species that offer reduced wildlife benefits? Heat can still be an issue once nests hatch. Studies have shown heat in excess of 102 degrees Fahrenheit can kill adult game birds as well as chicks and embryos in eggs.

Changing Some Management Priorities to Help Pheasants Adapt

Pheasants aren't the only species adapting to changed conditions. Mammalian and avian predators will also be adapting. Populations of some species will increase, while others decline. Increased temperatures and milder winters will mean some predators' ranges will expand like that of opossums. Increased temperatures might mean more prevalent disease outbreaks.

As you can tell, aside from the reality that climate change is here and is happening, many of the biological impacts related to climate change are uncertain, especially as related to pheasants and other game birds. We need updated data on the microclimate of nesting sites and baseline biological assessments to better understand what those impacts are and what management practices we should support to assist the birds as they work to adapt.

Short-term solutions place increased emphasis on maintaining and enhancing high quality habitats. Water management techniques such as desert guzzlers for quail may become more commonplace in other areas where traditionally there was enough water available around natural wetlands or from precipitation events. Specific management of insects for young chicks (e.g. through moist soil management practices) might receive increased emphasis in pheasant management plans. Tree and shrub plantings may focus on providing shade from summer heat as well as providing winter cover. Making sure habitat plans incorporate a diversity of cool, warm and mixed grass stands will likely become increasingly important.

It's All About Carbon

Pheasants Forever chapters and other conservation groups have been working on climate change for decades. We've just called it by another name - habitat conservation. Habitat projects ranging from tree and grass plantings, wetlands restoration and land acquisitions share one important element - carbon. Much of the entire debate over climate change is related to increased CO2 levels. Much of habitat conservation efforts for previous decades, and certainly in future decades, are all about carbon sequestration.

My main point is this - wildlife conservationists, sportsmen and sportswomen everywhere can and will be part of the solution. Perhaps were just hung up on semantics. If global climate change means taking carbon out of the air through grass and tree plantings and wetland restorations, then Pheasants Forever has been in the global climate change business for over 26 years.

In fact, once we get past the semantics and politicization of the term "global climate change" we can all begin to see the tremendous opportunity this provides us all as hunters-conservationists. The world is truly looking for a solution, and there is no better group equipped to deliver that solution than Pheasants Forever and our partners. We know the ins and outs of planting grass, preserving native prairies, restoring wetlands and establishing woody shelterbelts. We can deliver the solution to global climate change and create wildlife habitat in tandem.

You can help sequester carbon like you always have: through habitat projects. In addition to your involvement with chapters, let's make sure our youth are involved. After all, much of what we do today will impact future generations. Talk about what you and your family can contribute toward energy conservation. Small individual contributions add up to big differences.

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