By the name itself, we can depict what a forest fire is. Forest fires can either be caused by man or nature. It's an unplanned, uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation, that spreads fast and is disastrous to nature. Climate change makes the wildfires even worse due to the dry and hot weather. Some animals do die in the flames of wildfires, mostly the elderly and very young animals who can’t escape. However, the majority of wildlife mortalities come after the fire is out, due to the loss of important habitat and food sources burned in the fire. The burns create a new type of habitat, usually open areas where dense forests used to be that are quickly colonized by grasses and shrubs. This creates an opportunity for invasive species to move in before native species get the chance, which can have harmful impacts on the landscape. For the animals that are trapped in the wildlife the impacts, it has on the animal can be life-threatening. The thick smoke from the fire can disorient animals, cause eye irritation and even breathing issues. Yes, forest fires are part of the lifecycle, but due to the fact that climate change is increasing every day, the intensity of a potential forest fire in the future may be brutal towards flora and fauna.
