Wildfires & Endangered Animals

What is a Wildfire?

• Wildfires are uncontrolled, and usually large, fires that occur in the wilderness or areas of high vegetation growth. There are a number of synonyms for the term wildfire, including forest fire, brush fire and grass fire. These blazes move quickly through vegetation and can become dangerous to humans when they approach towns or other populated areas. The size of these fires and their speed define them and make them a potential major threat.

Endangered Animals

• Endangered animals -- known as endangered species -- are a sub-class of animals that are under threat due to human and environmental factors. Endangered animals represent the most threatened group of animals. The next stage is extinction. Lesser stages of threat are vulnerable (animals at some risk due to dwindling numbers) and threatened (animals with low populations that are likely to become endangered if action is not taken). The indigo snake and red kangaroo are examples of threatened species. The final state, after endangerment, is extinction, which is a species of animal that no longer exists.

Wildfires and Their Effect on Engangered Animals

• Wildfires can pose a serious risk to both humans and endangered animals. In the case of a wildfire's threat to humans, populations can respond and prevent some of the potential damage. However, endangered animals with low populations cannot, and since their habitats often are at risk already, wildfires can destroy both the population itself and its habitat. Wildfires also can upset or destroy the food chain in a given area, which may pose a serious threat to the health and existence of an endangered animal, especially if its remaining population is concentrated in a given area.

Example in California

• In California in 2003, major wildfires ravaged much of the state. In fact, it was the worst fire season on record for California. One effect of these fires was that they destroyed the habitat of four endangered or threatened species: the coastal California gnatcatcher and least Bell's vireo -- both birds; the Southern California mountain yellow-legged frog; and the Quino checkerspot butterfly.