As cap and trade legislation and it's cost become more visible people are questioning the so called truth of AGW(man made global warming). I'm not a scientist so I won't claim that I can prove the fallacy that is AGW. Instead I would ask if things are getting better or worse in our environment.
Growing up I first lived in an inner ring suburb of Cleveland Ohio and then a little further out but still the suburbs. The animals we saw were squirrels and raccoons,mice and moles. We were amazed after we moved further out and saw a possum or skunk rarely.
As an adult I live in an area that is a blend between suburbs and farm land. Twenty years ago when we first moved here we would see the occasional deer. Lately the deer have become more and more prevalent. Last year there was a story of of a women in the downtown area who killed a deer with a shovel.
Last week when I was out for my daily run I saw something I've never seen before at least not in Ohio. Standing along side the road there was coyote. As I approached it retreated closer to the woods and watched me pass.
So why the litany of critters. I believe it is a testament to the health of the environment. Some of it can be attributed to location but the increase in sightings in my mind means there are more animals to be seen. More animals appear because the winters are lighter allowing them to survive but also because the general health of the environment is better. Air quality and drinking water are both less polluted.
So I ask two questions is this a sign that whatever global warming is happening is good or bad. Secondly have any of you noticed similar results in your part of the country?
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I wouldn't take this as a sign that global warming is not a real or not a bad thing.
ReplyDeleteI don't know the explanation for why you saw a coyote, but it's certainly possible that coyotes are moving into areas that they did not normally inhabit because they are desperate for food. The animals they normally eat are not thriving, or have moved out of the area early, or have come into the area late, or whatever, and so the coyotes are wandering into other areas looking for something to eat.
Or it could be that, for the moment, this is great for the coyotes. Warmer weather means more bugs means more animals that eat bugs means more coyotes that eat those animals, etc. Good stuff. But not necessarily sustainable.
I would not look at an increase in certain kinds of wildlife as a sign that things are going the right way. The abundant rabbit population in Australia has been a sign (and cause) of Very Bad Things there.