Drought affects waterfowl productivity, therefore hunting

Colorado: The Fort Morgan Times staff reported this week that duck hunters this season may be a little disappointed. The drought conditions in Colorado prompt many migratory birds to pass it by for better conditions elsewhere. Weather conditions greatly impact hunting conditions, and variable weather, as most hunters know, can mean a very unpredictable hunting trip. In addition, the drought has impacted the amount of land producing corn and other feed crops that often attract waterfowl to the area, and has brought lake levels down to their lowest in years.

The wetland ecosystems in the intermountain west are adapted to drought cycles and a dry spell of one or two seasons will actually improve productivity afterwards. However, prolonged drought, which is predicted to occur with more frequency and severity across the world according to climate change models, could mean more drastic ecosystem damage.

Source: The Fort Morgan Times