Global Warming Could Hurt Va's Mountain Wildlife

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Updated: 10:20 AM Aug 30, 2010 Global Warming Could Hurt Va's Mountain Wildlife RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Scientists fear that many high-living animals and plants will become stranded atop mountains that are too warm. Posted: 10:13 AM Aug 30, 2010 Email Address: news@newsplex.com	View of Bluefield, West Virginia from the East River Mountain Overlook. (Courtesy: Carson Maynard, 2006)

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August 30, 2010

Scientists fear that many high-living animals and plants will become stranded atop mountains that are too warm.

"If the climate warms, the populations on these islands will blink out," said Bryan Watts, a biologist with Virginia Commonwealth University and the College of William and Mary.

After the last ice age ended more than 10,000 years ago, some
cold-loving animals and plants moved north as the Earth warmed. Some simply moved up mountains.

A number of ice-age survivors inhabit Virginia's high ridges, including northern flying squirrels and red spruce trees.

In the northern U.S. and Canada, these species are more common.
In Virginia, they are rare.

Another ice-age relic, the snowshoe hare, has apparently died out in Virginia, possibly because warming temperatures meant less snow in which the white-in-winter animal could hide from predators, experts say.

Virginia's mountain species are important ecologically, forming key links in the food chain. And they are part of our heritage, said Chris Burkett, wildlife action plan coordinator for the state Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

"When we lose one of these," Burkett said, "Virginia becomes just a little less special."

Latest Comments

Posted by: sam Location: greenwood on Aug 30, 2010 at 01:38 PM

That reminds me of the bumper sticker from years back..."Plants and animals are disappearing fast to make room for your fat ass." How unfortunately true.

Posted by: Bubba Location: Afton on Aug 30, 2010 at 01:06 PM

Does this include the Shiffletts' & Morris'?

Posted by: The Dude Location: Greene County on Aug 30, 2010 at 10:18 AM

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” - Charles Darwin

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