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Buffalo, NY (WBEN) With the hot and dry summer we've had, how are birds and other wildlife dealing with lesser water access? One DEC expert says it's not as severe as you might think.
"Wildlife adapt," says Mark Kandel with the DEC. "They've evolved with the ebb and flow of drought. They can adjust to less water, more than people think." He does say wildlife will have to move to where more water is, so the impact will be on where they are.
"Waterfowl, for example, need water for security and to feed. When those summer wetlands or streams dry up, they congregate more," explains Kandel. "We'll have the haves and the have nots when it comes to wildlife. Areas that are smaller, people may not see as much in a typical year, in larger areas with swamps and streams, there may be more."
Kandel says if you like to garden, there's a better chance of getting a wild visitor. "If you're watering a vegetable or flower garden on your lawn, you'll attract more wildlife. The ground will be softer, so there are earthworms closer to the surface. You'll be more robins on a softer lawn than on one that's dry and parched.
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