What Do Wild Animals Do During A Hurricane?

WEATHER

While humans have the ability to evacuate during an impending hurricane, wild animals don't have that luxury. So every bit nearly six million humans are instructed to abscond Hurricane Irma, what'south happening to our feathered, furred and scaled friends? (Miami Herald and The Telegraph)

What is a hurricane? How does information technology work? Find out with our Forces of Nature interactive.

Teachers, ringlet down for a quick listing of key resources in our Teachers Toolkit.

When Hurricane Hermine hitting Florida in 2016, its heavy rains produced flooding which caused several manatees to be stuck in a golf game course swimming. Florida Fish and Wild fauna to the rescue!
Photograph by Karen Parker, courtesy Florida Fish and Wildlife. CC BY-ND 2.0

Discussion Ideas

Read through the Telegraph and Miami Herald manufactures. What birds seem to survive well during a hurricane and storm surge?
- Many species can detect environmental changes, such equally drops in atmospheric pressure and infrared radiation. They can migrate early to avoid a storm.
  - Scientists use infrared radiations to detect cyclones, too.
- The burrows of burrowing owls can protect them from stiff winds.

What mammals seem to survive well during a hurricane and storm surge?
- Raccoons and other scavengers find new sources of food during and after cyclone events.
- Bears ofttimes benefit from increased basis shelter created past downed copse and brush.
- Sometimes, deer tin benefit from upturned earth caused past gale-force winds. This brings fresh grasses, shrubs, and roots to the surface.
- Many marine mammals, such every bit whales and some dolphins, can seek safety in open water or the deep ocean.

What reptiles seem to survive well during a hurricane and storm surge?
- Many species of snakes can burrow and survive potent winds and rains.

What amphibians seem to survive well during a hurricane and storm surge?
- Frogs and toads breed in pools of still water.

What animals seem to be particularly at risk during a hurricane and storm surge?
- Migrating birds are often blown off-class by gale-strength winds.
- Rainfall washes sediments and pollutants onto corals that thrive in shallow tropical waters. This runoff blocks sunlight and hinders the growth of the coral reef.
- Squirrels and birds such as woodpeckers are often thrown from their nests, and their supplies of nuts and seeds tin exist wiped out.
- Ocean turtle nests, buried in shallow beach sands, can be washed out to sea.
- Fish are at run a risk in a number of dissimilar ways—from sediments and pollutants washing into their habitat, creating a dead zone; from fallen electrical lines that threaten them with electrocution; and from an influx of seawater into freshwater habitats.
- The dune habitats of beach mice and wetland birds are often destroyed by strong storm surges.
- Deer and other herbivores may not be able to survive the flavor if upturned grasses and shrubs rot in the moisture ground.
- The burrows of snakes and burrowing owls tin be blocked past debris, preventing their exit.
- Some marine mammals, such as manatees and dolphins, may be washed ashore or into unfamiliar habitats.