The devastating Rocky Fire in Lake County has not only had a major impact on many of the residents of Lake County but the wildlife as well.
The 65,000-acre fire has raged in brush and woodlands which also are home to thousands of birds, deer, elk, bears, mountain lions, squirrels and other wildlife . Many will survive the fire but others will perish and their habitat will remain changed for years.
According to Department of Fish and Wildlife (DWF) retired senior wildlife biologist Ed Smith, the speed in which a wildfire can travel will often overrun young deer such as fawns. Ground squirrels and snakes will have a tougher time surviving. Their small size means that they can’t outrun the fire and even though they can crawl into burrows and under rocks the heat and smoke will take a terrible toll. Many birds such as fledglings will die because the flames will race through the tree tops before they can escape. Smith said that predicators such as coyotes, bears and mountain lions will also be a threat to deer and other wildlife because they will have nowhere to hide.
The fire did burn in a section of the Cache Creek Wildlife Area where there is a large resident elk herd but most of these large animals more than likely moved out of danger area before the fire.
Smith said that whereas wildfire can be devastating there is a positive note. Within a few weeks after the fire is over young green vegetation will sprout which will provide food for the deer and elk herds. There will also be enough small wildlife that survive the fire to repopulate and the bird life will also return.
