This week's story is about wildlife and what happens to them when the County, City Officials and developers annihilate forests to build housing developments, roads and businesses. We will also touch on habitat loss, ecosystems, rural development and community responsibility. This all relates to wildlife.
The destruction of forests in Thurston County and the Pacific Northwest significantly impacts wildlife in various ways.
Forests provide critical habitats for numerous species, including birds, mammals and yes, even amphibians. Deforestation leads to the loss of these habitats, forcing wildlife to relocate or face extinction.
When forests are cut down, the remaining patches of forest become isolated. This fragmentation makes it difficult for species to find mates, food, and migrate, disrupting their natural behaviors and survival.
As animals lose their natural habitats, they may venture into urban areas in search of food and shelter, leading to conflicts with humans, which can result in harm to both wildlife and people.
The destruction of forests poses a significant threat to wildlife in Thurston County and the entire Pacific Northwest, leading to long-term ecological consequences that can alter the region’s biodiversity and ecosystem health.
In Tumwater alone, near our homes, four or five have gone up where beautiful forests used to be. These are just the ones along Henderson Boulevard south of Yelm Highway. The one that really made us cry was the corner of 22nd Avenue and Cain Road SE in Olympia. That seems, at least to us, is when it all started to snowball. From there, you can hardly go down a road and not see flat, developed land where forests used to exist.
We are constantly told that we have a housing crisis. We believe it is an affordable housing crisis, yet we see very few places that qualify to be anywhere near affordable.
Urban development often leads to increased pollution from roads, industries and waste. Contaminants can affect the health of wildlife, particularly species that rely on clean water or are sensitive to environmental changes. Increased artificial light and noise from urban areas can disrupt the natural behaviors of wildlife, such as mating, feeding, and migration patterns. Some species may abandon their habitats altogether due to these disturbances.
New roads and infrastructure can pose significant risks to wildlife through vehicle collisions. Animals may struggle to cross roads safely, leading to increased mortality rates.
Urban development can lead to significant challenges for local wildlife populations, necessitating careful planning and management to mitigate its impacts and promote coexistence between urban areas and wildlife. Honestly, we don’t have a lot of faith in that happening.
Education and Awareness—Raising awareness about local wildlife and their behaviors can help residents understand how to coexist peacefully. Workshops, informational signage, and community programs can educate people on how to avoid attracting wildlife.
Wildlife-Proofing--Encourage residents to secure trash, compost, and pet food in wildlife-proof containers; installing fences and using bird-proof feeders can also help keep wildlife away from residential areas.
Land Use Planning—Integrating wildlife corridors and green spaces into urban planning can facilitate safe movement for wildlife and reduce conflicts. Designing developments that consider local ecosystems can help maintain habitats. Constructing wildlife crossings, such as overpasses or underpasses, can help animals safely navigate roads, reducing the risk of vehicle collisions.
Zoning Regulations—Developing regulations that protect wildlife habitats and limit development in critical areas can help minimize conflicts and preserve ecosystems.
This is just a sampling of what could be done to help wildlife and humans.
We wish none of this were needed, but we also aren’t naive enough to believe that anything will change for our wildlife and their existence.
As you can see, there is a lot more involved in forest destruction, and so much more needs to be considered before the next one disappears.
When all the trees have been cut down
When all the animals have been hunted
When all the waters are polluted
When all the air is unsafe to breathe
Only then will you discover you cannot eat money
~ Indigenous Canadian Quote
Thom Donitz and Trish Lynn are neighbors and close friends who share their love of animals and wildlife. Trish and Thom are residents of Tumwater. Contact them at pets@theJOLTnews.com.
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Boatyarddog
Unfortunately, they become Pets. And are our responsibility for this change.
Wednesday, November 6 Report this
KatAshe
I moved to the Nottingham division off Boulevard and Log Cabin in 1997. My garden was visited by raccoons, opossums, the occasional pheasant or annual visit of ducks and their offspring. The ringed pigeons that came in huge flocks are long gone.
The old farm on the east side of Boulevard with its small forest, was completely cleared for one development. Several years later, a small forest on Log cabin was completely cleared for another development. With these urban cleared the dear are now gone.
Thursday, November 7 Report this
johngreen
I am a bird lover/watcher. I wonder about these little migrants who go south for the winter and return in the spring to find their homes gone. Clearcut. Where do they go to find a home?
Our government in WA allow our legacy forests to be clearcut ignoring that they are large sequesters of carbon and want us to give up our gas stoves so they can cut more trees in spite of climate change. They can't see the forest for the trees.
And we are supposed to be a progressive state. Our funding for schools has got to change from the one created by the forest industry to allow clearcutting. We have to step up to the plate or we will wind up living the poem above.
Now I'll get off my soapbox.
Thursday, November 7 Report this
Acadian04
Nobody would move into these new developments if the housing wasn't needed. Like the idea of wildlife corridors, though.
Thursday, November 7 Report this
wildnature
It's why we have bobcats, bears and cougars, not to mention deer wandering around neighborhoods now!
Thursday, November 7 Report this
Laceyreader11
Great article laying out the issues for wildlife and the ongoing human-wildlife conflict. A big issue is that cities rezone areas when they want to get tax money from new developments. The county and local cities need better development plans and should update outdated ones.
The immediate destruction of forests, whether it's a single acre or several, has a profound and urgent impact on wildlife. Developers often clear the land swiftly to erect buildings, leading to a future where Lacey, the 'tree city', may lose its native trees to ornamental varieties. This underscores the need to repurpose existing structures or rezone for new construction.
Change the city light laws - if the streets must have LED lights, make them yellow and dim, not blue-white bright, shining into bedroom windows at night.
The new development of 21 Kitchens has blazing lights up into the sky, impacting migrating birds. Those lights were on on a normal gray autumn day; they must be set to come on when the sky is darker.
As the demand for new houses continues, it's crucial for cities to adopt more forward-thinking and insightful planning. These plans should prioritize preserving wildlife habitats and using existing structures or land with mixed-use zoning. At one point all the futurists said everyone would be working from home and want to live in urban, walkable areas. That meant places near conveniences like grocery stores and restaurants. Lacey has these places but continues adding more commercial and retail instead of restructuring.
Wildlife (deer, raccoons, etc.) should not be fed, and those in areas with wildlife must be educated about containing their garbage. Sadly, animals always pay for human stupidity, vehicle speed, ignorance, habitat destruction, and, in many cases, hyped-up fear.
Thursday, November 7 Report this
Latumpia
Good points in this letter. If anyone has walked on the Chehalis Western Trail between about Milepost 4.5 and 26th Street, you've seen the older development west of the CWT in Olympia and the new one on Thurston County land east of the CWT. Both developments cut trees right up to, or nearly to the boundary of the CWT right away. Old trees, some 1.5–3 ft in diameter were cut down. There are evidently natural areas left behind in the subdivisions, but they were not coordinated with the CWT.
This is very disappointing to me from my perspective as a user of the trail—and to other trail users I've talked with as well. What about the concept of habitat corridor along the trail, a narrow forest corridor is already there along the CWT, and consideration of the environmental benefits to users of the CWT as a "trail through a forest". We used to hear and see pileated woodpeckers and varied thrushes at times and hear Swainson's thrushes daily in summer—not anymore. These developments may have been consistent with Dept. of Ecology and local zoning requirements, but that doesn't mean more thought can't be given to design that is consistent with habitat needs, trail users, our very real global climate crisis. It's been 55 years now since the publication of Ian McHarg's classic book, "Design with Nature." It's time to revisit those concepts and incorporate them and other considerations in our local planning for the benefit of all.
Thursday, November 7 Report this
DonnaS
Thank you for writing on this very important topic. It is very sad to see wooded areas removed to expand housing. Less habitat results in less wildlife. You offered some very good strategies to coexist with wildlife. Yet, there will be a net loss of habitat and less wildlife on the planet. It is sad that humans are taking over more of our planet day by day.
Friday, November 8 Report this
Dogmom
One of the comments about repurposing all these large structures, especially vacant state buildings is a real good idea. Being as probably the majority of state & business employees are still working from home & looks like it will continue, the State needs to consolidate the dozens of buildings to accomodate those that do report to an office & sell the rest. Tell developers & govt. officials no more forest clearing.
Friday, November 8 Report this