Brook Trout

The cold water streams of the Appalachian Mountains harbor the highly sought after brook trout. Because brook trout are unable to tolerate waters above about 72oF, climate change is projected to dramatically reduce their habitat, as well as that of other trout species across much of North America.

 Pintail

One of the most popular duck for hunters, the pintail is likely to dramatically decline with climate change. Prairie potholes of the upper Midwest provide abundant breeding habitat for pintails and other waterfowl, including mallards, gadwall, blue-winged teal, shovelers, canvasbacks and redheads. Higher temperatures increase evaporation could shrink prairie potholes to a fraction of their current size and abundance.

 Moose

Large-bodied and densely furred, moose become stressed by summer
temperatures above 57oF and winter temperatures above 23oF. As
Minnesota temperatures sky-rocketed in recent decades, the state’s northwest moose population plummeted from some 4,000 animals to about 100 today. Climate change will be a challenge for other moose populations in the lower-48 states.

 King Salmon

Climate change puts king salmon and other salmon of the Pacific Northwest under increased stress due not only to warmer water temperatures, but also increased winter flooding and decreased summer and fall stream flows.
The greater extremes in flooding and drought reduce the quantity and
quality of available habitat.

 Sage Grouse

The largest grouse species in North America, the sage grouse must live in sagebrush habitats if it is to find enough food and cover to survive. Habitat loss and degradation have already greatly reduced sage grouse range and abundance, and climate change threatens to change much of its remaining habitat by reducing the abundance and distribution of sagebrush.

 Yellow Perch

Climate change has already affected the long tradition of winter ice fishing for yellow perch and other species. The mild 2006-2007 winter in the northern states kept anxious anglers on the shores waiting for safe ice. Fishing tournaments were cancelled and the sale of fishing licenses dropped.

Bobwhite Quail

A popular game bird, hunters and game managers have been concerned with the bobwhite’s decades long decline. Many factors have contributed to the decline and the causes continue to be investigated. The susceptibility of bobwhite to high summer temperatures suggests that climate change may be one of these factors, and a likely concern as the climate warms further.

Bonefish

A popular sport fish in Florida, sea level rise brought on by climate change is projected to forever change the fragile mangroves, seagrass beds, tidal flats
and bays that provided them habitat. Climate change will exacerbate loss and degradation of coastal wetlands, which help cleanse water and produce important prey species for bonefish.

Brant

Until recently, most of the brant (a species of goose) breeding in Alaska spent the winter in Mexico. But due to climate change, many brant simply don’t bother with the long trip, and stay in Alaska year-round. Scientists worry that sudden, severe cold snaps with more extensive shoreline ice could put these birds at significant risks they wouldn’t face when wintering further south.

Cutthroat Trout

Native to much of the Rocky Mountains and the Great Basin, cutthroat trout are already threatened by habitat degradation and non-native fish species. Increased water temperatures threaten to further reduce habitat for this cold water species. The impact is being felt by anglers, as high water temperatures in 2007 led to unprecedented fishing restrictions in Yellowstone National Park.