Wildlife Health

     The USGS National Wildlife Health Center has a fact sheet, as a pdf, online that talks about how wildlife is effected both directly and indirectly through climate change.  Such parasites like the black-legged tick have been able to expand northward throughout the years as global warming has shortened winters and lessened

the amount of die back of the parasites than previous  years.  There may also be a change in the transmission of mosquito-borne avian malaria in places like Hawaii, which may further threaten already endangered bird species.  The changing in warming through
out areas will also allow such pests as mosquitoes to not only live longer throughout the year but also be able have a large area to inhabit, such as higher up in mountain ranges because they will no longer be as cold.  A change in precipitation can also cause wildlife diseases to be more frequent or cause parasite species to have a higher population putting their hosts at a greater risk.  Such a disease would be brain worm, found in snail populations and infecting deer and moose species.  Even sea creatures such as corals will be effected through the rising sea temperatures.  This would not only effect the creatures that inhabit that area but local areas that may depend on the coral reefs for food or tourism.


USGS. "Climate Change and Wildlife Health: Direct and Indirect Effects." USGS National Wildlife Health Center. USGS, n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. <www.nwhc.usgs.gov/publications/fact_sheets/pdf>.