Hunting, Fishing Groups Angle for Climate Adaptation Efforts

"For the average United States' city or 'burb dweller, firsthand evidence of climate change is rare. Hunters and anglers see it every day.

That's one of the main messages from a coalition of hunting and fishing organizations that released a report Monday outlining the consequences of climate change for fish and wildlife in the United States.

"It's very evident that major shifts are under way," said Richard Kearney, assistant regional director for climate change for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Southwest region, which was unaffiliated with the report. "We are just now seeing the first stages of big changes in the distribution of fish and wildlife and (their) habitats."

The report, "Beyond Seasons' End," suggests a number of strategies to help wildlife adapt. It expands upon a 2008 report, "Seasons' End," by detailing specific projects for habitat stewardship along with associated costs.

The coalition includes Trout Unlimited, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Pheasants Forever and the Boone & Crockett Club."

Ferris Jabr reports for The Daily Climate March 22, 2010.