During droughts certain kinds of wildlife are on the move. They have to go where they can get food and water. In 2009 during the worst year of our previous drought, there was a large kind of cat struck by a vehicle on a road not too far away from us. I forget which kind, but definitely not from around here. Snakes headed to areas with watered landscapes, because there was still some prey left for them, not to mention the water itself. Our area doesn't get up to temps as high as Mitch is talking about, although some 100+ happens. We're hilly, over 1450 feet in elevation, which keeps the temps down a bit. But the rainfall this year...under 5 inches here so far this year. Trying to keep the plants alive now...some have died, but most will make it. Drought-tolerant species, especially natives, are my heroes. I have a 5-gallon bucket and 3 small containers of water outside the fence and deer feed out. Refilling twice a day when necessary...often the smaller water containers are dry when I check. The birds I've been feeding and providing water for since 2009. Hummingbirds...I have flowering plants and a feeder for them. Butterflies...also flowering plants. That's one reason I water the yard, so they'll have nectar and such. We have water restrictions in place, but I water when I can. But the drought's impact on all wildlife has been very obvious here. Population numbers of wildlife are dropping fast this summer. The few species that seem to be increasing around my place...that's just what I was talking about...they came here because there's almost no water or natural food out there and what wildlife that have survived in other nearby areas come to get what they need to survive...if they're capable of migrating.
