@Curran
I would like to hear your thoughts on my last post when you get a chance. Seems to be a subject you have more knowledge than I on. I have just recently been more in tune with the idea and reality of the big picture.
Your mind and mine are tracking along the same lines. We'll let the others decide if that's good or bad or possibly dangerous if we ever get to hang out together.
I always default to looking at habitat and environment because I think it just makes sense to first look at where something lives and assess those living conditions. Just as a healthy human cannot thrive in an unhealthy environment, neither can wildlife. Not that I am an expert in any way at all, but I've read enough, listened to enough people way smarter than me, and have seen the results of what high-quality habitat can do versus what low-quality habitat does. The results are never instant, but over time, there is evidence right in front of our faces. We just don't recognize it because of the timeframe it takes for the results to show.
Since planting more wildflowers and letting portions of our yard grow wild, we have insects, butterflies, bees, snakes, birds, and rabbits all around. Fawns bedded in our yard this spring because there was a place to hide (until I bumped them out dog training). I want to do more because it looks better and saves on mowing time. I just have to plant strategically so my bride approves... she like the flowers.
Are deer doing fine? Across the vast landscape, yes, but in pockets of EHD, the answer is a resounding, no. Also, deer are a game species that the majority of states are managing for revenue. So those game populations are going to remain somewhat stable. Regardless of the management practices, I do think deer are now being impacted by changes in habitat which probably has a connection to EHD outbreaks. Habitat is one factor that we can also have an impact on. To many of your points above, our impacts on habitat are negative: mowning everything, manicured lawns, chemical runoff from those weedless lawns, monocropped agricultural fields, chemical runoff and soil degradation from spraying everything, fencerows continuously being removed to maximize every acre, fast-growing invasives out-pacing slow-growing natives, the list goes on and on.
If we expand our vision, nearly all wildlife populations are declining... but we're not changing our behavior toward habitat.
Insects -
https://www.reuters.com/graphics/GLOBAL-ENVIRONMENT/INSECT-APOCALYPSE/egpbykdxjvq/
Birds -
https://www.audubon.org/magazine/sw...birds-declining-sharply-across-range-habitats
All wildlife -
https://environmentamerica.org/articles/new-report-a-staggering-73-drop-in-wildlife-populations/
These are all HUGE global issues, but I believe a portion of the solutions are tied to improving localized habitat.
If we want improved fawn recruitment, large expanses of quality bedding habitat is crucial for hiding from predators. The same for turkey nesting and all ground nesting birds. Improved habitat also increases the amount of insects for baby and adult birds to feed on. Diverse habitat with a variety of age-classes of bushes and trees helps all wildlife, from pollinators to big game. Plus those diverse age classes of plant life also harness more carbon from the atmosphere. So if a politician wants to tax for climate change, tell them to shove their taxes where the sun don't shine and start managing our farms, prairies and forests to actually make a difference.
