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CNN Live Today

Drought's Effect on Wildlife

Aired July 22, 2002 - 12:23   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Wildfires, water restrictions and brown lawns, all symptoms of one of the worst droughts in years, and the problem is nationwide.

CNN's Kimberly Osias now in Frisco, Colorado to tell us how the drought is impacting wildlife -- Kimberly.

KIMBERLY OSIAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.

You said the stock market is drying up. Well, it's drying up here as well. It's pretty amazing. I am standing, believe it or not, in a marina, or what used to be a marina. Boats used to come in here and dock up. All you see is a buoy, and you can see a water line of just what was here last summer, sort of a sad reminder.

And I will tell you, Kyra, it's amazing. You stand here and the heat, it comes almost through your toes all the way up. And when you drink water, it evaporates so quickly your lips get pretty dry, and that's for us humans. You can imagine the effect on wildlife.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OSIAS (voice-over): The sound of flowing water, one not often heard these days since the precious commodity is becoming more scarce...

JEFF BUTLER, COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE: If we keep up with no rain and the heat and what-not, there's going to be all sorts of problems.

OSIAS: ... creating a trickle-down effect throughout the entire food chain.

BUTLER: Well, we are running into problems with our fish and wildlife, both.

OSIAS: No rain means grass can't grow, animals can't feed, sending some foraging for food any way they can.

BUTLER: They use their nose, and they can smell people food.

OSIAS: Elk, deer, and of course, bear are known to bulk-up in the summer, building a layer of fat to keep them alive throughout winter. But these days, scant food is sending some inland, threatening people.

BUTLER: Once we get a bear that's causing a problem and we ear tag him and move him, if he comes back, he is a dead bear.

OSIAS: And the heat is creating troubled waters for fish as well...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The big fish like to live in deep water, so, most of them, the pelicans are getting them, because they have to go up to shallow water.

OSIAS: ... getting trapped there. The problem is so bad that for the first time, some wildlife officials now have full power to close lakes and streams to fishermen. In one extreme case, an entire reservoir full of trout will be drained to help supply a larger reservoir.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel bad, I feel sad, and everybody I have talked to is upset. Everybody is upset about it, especially all of the fishermen.

OSIAS: Water levels keep dropping, and the heat keeps coming.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we better do some praying.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OSIAS: And that may well be what's needed, since there is no signs of abatement yet.

We are looking at a live look right now of the Dillon Reservoir, and you can see, Kyra, both have had to move almost a quarter-of-a- mile all the way down, which is pretty significant. It gives you a very clear picture of how serious this drought really is.

PHILLIPS: Wow, Kimberly, you can see the effect from also a social level. Obviously, kids can't come out and fish, and the boats can't really take off and enjoy, you know, a weekend out on the boat. But what about the economy for these fishermen and these other types that sort of depend on this for livelihood? Have you seen an effect economy-wise?

OSIAS: That's a very good point, Kyra. Of course, tourism is very, very dependent upon the weather here in Colorado. Fishermen, of course, are worried about that, and for the first time, the Department of Wildlife has actually given the power to close lakes and streams if they get up to 65 and plus, because the fish are in such stress right now.

PHILLIPS: Kimberly Osias from Frisco, Colorado -- thanks, Kimberly.

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