by Misi Stine

No one I know would be surprised if I said this was a challenging year with the drought. We saw our lawns dry up as well as plants and trees struggling not only in our yards but across the state. Depending on where you were in Minnesota, the drought conditions throughout the summer varied from moderate to exceptional. Water use restrictions were implemented. Campfires, and other burning, were banned across the state. Despite those restrictions, there were several fires in northern Minnesota with persistent dry and hot conditions. I observed water across the state become scarcer in my travels, from ponds drying up entirely to the mighty Mississippi River at levels so low I wondered if I could walk across as I drove over a bridge in Monticello one day in early August. It also impacted human activities: the inability to use certain water resources due to low levels, the loss of homes, cabins, and restrictions on the use of The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA), a favorite destination of summer travelers. (Drought in MInnesota, 2021), (Simon, 2021) (Coexisting with Wildlife During Droughts, n.d.), (Seitz, 2021)

There are also varying impacts on wildlife; some are obvious, others take scientists' time and research to help us see the complete picture. In aquatic environments, fish are stuck in pools of water as their watery environment dried up all around them. It will impact the reproduction of several fish species that cannot reach the spawning grounds. If we don't have enough rain before winter arrives, we could have a large winter kill of those same fish, as the remaining pools of water will freeze through to the bottom. (Myers, 2021)

We also see frog populations declining partly because the water they need to breed has dried up. They cannot lay eggs, and the young may not have the time necessary to complete metamorphosis into the terrestrial adult that can survive on land. Additionally, if frogs do not have enough water, or in some cases more terrestrial species, species like the American toad or native salamanders, do not have an adequate moisture level in the soil, they will desiccate and die. (Robertson, 2012)

Dusty American Toad, Bemidji area August 2021, Photo Credit Misi Stine

Among mammals, due to the reduced production of wild foods like berries and nuts, we see more human-bear conflicts as they are coming to towns trying to access trash, corn from the field, and other human-created food sources. As summer turns to fall, bears need to consume an average of 20,000 calories per day, preparing for their long winter's nap. If they hibernate in poor body condition, it will have an impact on their reproduction too. Bears mate in summer, and the females go through delayed implantation, where the fertilized egg does not immediately implant into the uterus and develop, which happens once they begin hibernating. If the female is not healthy and does not have the appropriate amount of fat for hibernation, their body will reabsorb the fertilized egg rather than become pregnant. (Meet the Black Bear, 2018) (Myers, 2021)

The Voyageurs Wolf Project has been taking a deep dive into research questions such as what wolves eat during the summer in the voyageur's greater ecosystem. They have discovered that a big part of the wolf's diet in that region in July and August is wild blueberries. They hypothesize because the prey wolves typically hunt (deer, beaver, moose) are in prime condition that time of year, and wolves rely on vulnerable prey to hunt, they turn to other food sources. What does the drought mean for wolves? Will the reduction in available blueberries impact survival, particularly of pups? Will their primary prey be more vulnerable because of the drought so they can rely on that food source instead? Only time and continued research will tell. (Gable, 2021), (Myers, 2021)

Across the board, animals must travel farther to find food and water, increasing the need for them to cross more roads, which also means more potential road mortality.

On the other side of the coin, some critters seemed to benefit from these drier conditions. Wild turkeys are experiencing multiple and larger broods. Ruffed grouse are experiencing similar benefits to reproduction and benefiting from a larger number of grasshoppers, which is a favorite food source of upland birds. (Myers, 2021)

Will this cause short- or long-term changes in wildlife populations? Much is unknown and will be studied for many years once the drought conditions recede; we will have to wait and see.

Bibliography

Coexisting with Wildlife During Droughts. (n.d.). Retrieved from NEEF: https://www.neefusa.org/weather-and-climate/coexisting-wildlife-during-drought

Drought in MInnesota. (2021). Retrieved from Minnesota Department of Natural Resources: https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/climate/drought/index.html

Gable, T. (2021, De). Articles in peer-reviewed journals. Retrieved from Voyageurs Wolf Project: https://www.voyageurswolfproject.org/peer-reviewed

https://drought.unl.edu/Education/DroughtforKids/DroughtEffects.aspx. (2021). Retrieved from National Drought Mitigation Center: https://drought.unl.edu/

Meet the Black Bear. (2018). Retrieved from Bear Wise: https://bearwise.org/all-about-black-bears/

Myers, J. (2021, August 29). 'It was just too dry.' Summer's drought impact. Retrieved from Twin Cities Pioneer Press: https://www.twincities.com/2021/08/29/it-was-just-too-dry-summer-droughts-impact-on-fish-wildlife-can-be-dramatic/

Robertson, T. (2012, December 11). Widespread dought affecting Minnesota's Wildlife. Retrieved from MPR News: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2012/12/11/widespread-drought-affecting-minnesotas-wildlife

Seitz, G. (2021, July 28). Drought impacts northern Minnesota's ecosystem. Retrieved from Quetico Superior Wilderness News: https://queticosuperior.org/blog/drought-has-broad-impacts-on-northern-minnesotas-ecosystem/

Simon, A. (2021, August 27). 'Extreme drought" conditions expand in Minnesota. Retrieved from Kare 11 : https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/minnesota-extreme-drought-conditions/89-a4bb6647-628e-401a-9297-99245c95ac29