How Wildlife and The Environment are Connected

There is a lot of noise about the extinction period we are going through right now. Trying to save any species, as numbers of most animals dwindle, is a very noble thing to do. - Says guy with a conservation blog

I love animals. Always have. My mother can attest to the amount of times I would make us go to the zoo, or play with toy animals in the living room, or catch whatever I could catch in the backyard and create a whole ecosystem for that animal just to release it a few days later.

I’ve had this feeling that different types of wildlife was important, but I never had any tangible “why”. So I got to thinking, aside from the 1 million cool things about animals… Are they good for us? Like “us” as in the royal us. Like as in humans. They get it Josh you can move on.

I want lions and tigers and bears (oh my) to be around forever. But why does having diverse species actually matter?

How Wildlife And The Environment Are Connected

➡️ A current issue we have is human development causing a loss in habitat for wildlife. This can decrease food availability, impairing the nutritional status and health of herbivores (plant eaters).

➡️ This, then, obviously impacts the number of herbivores (not in a good way), which in turn causes the number of predators to decrease. I feel like you can see where this is going.

➡️ But on the flip side: Too big an increase in the number of herbivores can decimate the environment. Once the group is too big they may consume nearly all of the potential food sources, creating a famine.

➡️ If there is less food, animals will weaken. This creates less ability for them to move freely, which reduces gene distribution and causes less-healthy animals.

➡️ A factor of these combinations can lead to the loss of “keystone species,” or a pivotal animal in an ecosystem. This loss can cause the whole ecosystem to collapse. Nooootttt super great.

➡️ Despite our usual physical separation, we depend on the environment remaining stable and healthy. The air we breathe, the water we drink, the foods we eat and the medications we take are all by-products of a healthy ecosystem.

➡️ The environment is like a car engine. We all play our role in helping the car run. You can continue to drive with the check engine light on for a little while, but when the radiator cracks, or your transmission gives out, you are going to wish you had taken care of that little light.

We aren't all sad and mad on this here internet web experience. So what can we do? Well howdy partner, scroll a little further and you shall see!

How You Can Help Sustain Wildlife and the Environment

🔘 Let your elected officials know that you support laws and policies that protect wildlife.

🔘 If you have the means, donate money to anti-poaching and environmental charities.

🔘 Plant native species of bushes, trees and flowers in your yard.

🔘 Avoid pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers.

🔘 Volunteer with local organizations to restore ecosystems.

🔘 Stay a safe distance away from wildlife.