The Race Against Winter: How Wildlife Conservationists Have Responded to the Crisis in Texas
Story by Bella Wexler, photograph by Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Last month, Hell finally froze over.
In February 2021, frigid temperatures—the likes of which had not been felt in decades— gripped communities in Texas. Millions of people were left without power, burst pipes caused widespread property damage, icy roads led to hundreds of vehicular accidents, and frosty conditions were estimated to have a billion-dollar agricultural cost.
As residents in Texas struggled to survive the devastating weather and insufficient resources to offset its impact, many conservationists feared for the wildlife who were also ill-equipped to survive the shock.
According to biologists, bats have responded to climate change by migrating to Texas for longer periods in winter before flying south. With an unprecedented storm event like this, bats who remained in Texas were unable to withstand the temperatures. Experts estimate that anywhere between 10,000 and 100,000 bats froze to death. Considering that bats reproduce slowly and contribute significantly to the ecosystem by pollinating and consuming insects, the losses sustained due to the storm are rather staggering.
Austin Bat Refuge was among those organizations striving to rescue and rehabilitate the survivors, but found itself in desperate need of more medical equipment to keep up with the sheer number of critical bats in their care. What’s more, many insects have receded into their habitats to wait out the cold which temporarily deprived surviving bats of a food source.
Meanwhile, cold-blooded animals like sea turtles have faced an equally harsh reality. Since they cannot regulate their own body temperatures, sea turtles are prone to “cold stuns” in waters below 50 degrees. Under such conditions, conscious turtles lose their ability to move and often die in the water or wash ashore. When chilling weather hit Texas last month, thousands of turtles were found freezing and incapacitated on the beach and in the water. Thanks to the fast-acting volunteerism of community members in South Padre Island, about 5,000 turtles were rescued in the span of a single week. Yet, with unpredictable access to electricity and limited space, ensuring the safe rehabilitation of the turtles has not been an easy feat. The nonprofit organization Sea Turtles Inc. has partnered with the city’s Convention and Visitors Bureau to secure more emergency facilities like the local convention center to accommodate the overflowing demand. The sea turtles, some as heavy as 350 pounds, include several endangered or at-risk species.
A few weeks since the freeze, now referred to as “Storm Uri,” conservation efforts are still essential. From volunteers to donors to the organizations that connect the dots, Texas has proven that it truly does take a village to make it through the winter. If you are interested in learning more or contributing to conservation in Texas, please visit the following resources:
Works Cited
Freedman, Andrew, et al. “Deadly Cold Snap Shuts down Central U.S. Texas Is Ground Zero.” Washington Post, 15 Feb. 2021, www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2021/02/15/texas-oklahoma-record-cold/.
Maeckle, Monika. “Wildlife Death Toll Mounts in Wake of Historic Texas Freeze.” San Antonio Report, 2 Mar. 2021, sanantonioreport.org/wildlife-death-toll-mounts-in-wake-of-historic-texas-freeze/. Accessed 8 Mar. 2021.
Team, Texas Tribune Photo. “Photos: Texans Face an Ice Storm That’s Left Millions of People without Power.” The Texas Tribune, 15 Feb. 2021, www.texastribune.org/2021/02/15/texas-winter-storm-emergency-photography/.
Treisman, Rachel. “Volunteers in Texas Are Saving Thousands of Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles from the Storm.” NPR.org, 17 Feb. 2021, www.npr.org/2021/02/17/968719492/volunteers-in-texas-are-saving-thousands-of-cold-stunned-sea-turtles-from-the-st.