Despite the larger than expected amount of snow dropped by Winter Storm Ceasar this past weekend in Midwestern states such as Minnesota and Wisconsin, the much needed precipitation arrived too late to help wildlife hurt by this year's devastating drought. The image above shows a beaver lodge near Detroit Lakes, MN, which was found vacant by DNR wildlife supervisor Blane Kelmek. Kelmek noted that the family of beavers had most likely moved to a larger lake making them vulnerable to predators. The drought has not only impacted the food sources for beavers in the region but also for black bears and many other animals. The extended dry period is part of long-term climate changes that the DNR believes is the reason wildlife is responding by migrating to other locations. The DNR hopes to create a plan on how to deal with the effects of climate change on natural resources. Although animals in parts of the Midwest are not in as good of condition as they normally are the drought is also having an impact on the human population. Farmers have also taken a huge hit from the drought with poor crop yields leading up to bailouts from insurance companies and an increase in food prices at the stores. Droughts have long term effects for all kinds of life and can change the way humans and other species go about their lives.
http://www.weather.com/news/snow-wont-help-animals-hurt-by-drought-20121212
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