Climate change is creating favorable conditions for many bothersome pests, increasing their numbers and expanding their ranges, according to a new report from the National Wildlife Federation.
Ticked Off: The Outdoor Experience and Climate Change explains how man made climate change has provided stressful new changes for the outdoor world. Citing from the best available science, the report goes on to explain how climate change is already increasing numbers of mosquitoes, ticks, poison ivy and other annoying pests and plants, making the outdoor experience less enjoyable.
“Americans love being outdoors. Outdoor sports like hunting and fishing are treasured American traditions,” said Jacqui Hakim, Co Owner of Pocono Tick and Skeeter Control. “But many of us are now concerned with being outdoors because tick populations have exploded. Twenty years ago, Lyme disease was uncommon. Now, we all know someone who has had it.”
Climate change is bringing stressful new changes to the outdoor world, and without proper actions, conditions will only worsen. Congress and government at all levels are strongly encouraged to reduce carbon pollution, move to less-polluting cleaner fuels, increase energy efficiency and support the proposed carbon pollution limits by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
“The EPA has proposed the first-ever limits on carbon from power plants, the nation’s single largest source of carbon pollution that has led and continues to lead to a warmer planet,” said Ed Perry, biologist with the National Wildlife Federation. “We welcome the EPA’s bold efforts to curtail the unrelenting disruption of our climate. Without serious action, our conservation and outdoor traditions are at risk.”
Ticked Off details that shorter winters, warmer summers, and more severe weather conditions all contribute to the abundance of outdoor pests. These pests can transmit diseases to people and pets, threatening America’s health and outdoor experience. Proper action is critical to avoid larger increases in outdoor pests and plants.
The report examines climate change’s impacts on eight species in Pennsylvania:
— Deer Ticks: Warmer winters are allowing expansion of the range of deer tick populations faster than projected, increasing the exposure of Americans to ticks and raising the risk of Lyme disease.
— More Algae: Warmer rivers, streams and lakes could be hit with more algae that thrive in warm waters and deplete the oxygen fish need to survive. Heavier rain events will increase runoff and add nutrients that fuel more algal growth and more oxygen depletion.
— Poison Ivy: More carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are accelerating the growth and increasing the abundance of vines like poison ivy. With higher CO2 levels, it produces a more allergenic form of urushiol, the toxic chemical that causes rashes in people.
— Stink Bugs: Longer summers bring more of these insects, causing harm to popular backyard garden crops like tomatoes, beans, berries, asparagus, sweet corn, peppers and more.
— Tiger Mosquito: The number of people possibly exposed to the tiger mosquito could double to about 30 million. Warmer temperatures cause earlier emergence of tiger mosquitoes in the spring which leads to more mosquito generations each year. Tiger mosquitoes can transmit 30 different viruses to humans, including West Nile virus.
— Wooly Adelgid: This small aphid like insect is decimating our state tree, the hemlock. Our state fish, the brook trout, is so closely associated with hemlocks that it was once called the hemlock trout. As the hemlock goes, so goes the brook trout.
Ticked Off outlines the key steps needed to stem climate change and save the outdoor experience:
— Address the underlying cause and cut carbon pollution by supporting the Clean Power Plan, which will establish limits on the amount of carbon pollution released by power plants.
— Transition to clean, wildlife-friendly sources of energy like offshore wind, solar power and next-generation biofuels and avoid polluting energy like coal and tar sands oil.
— Safeguard wildlife and their habitats by promoting climate-smart approaches to conservation and expanding protections to key land and seascapes.
— Help communities become resilient and respond to the impacts of climate change such as rising sea levels, more extreme weather and more severe droughts.
The full report is available online.
For more information, contact Ed Perry, PA NWF Global Warming Outreach Coordinator, by sending email to: paglobalwarmingoutreach@gmail.com.