Extreme temperature swings tough on animals in B.C., experts say

Recent wild temperature swings in British Columbia have raised concerns about the impact on some local animals' health, and potentially their survival.

Temperatures in the Fraser Valley city of Abbotsford, for instance, swung from a low of –15.4 C on Jan. 12 to more than 18 C this week, and one researcher says she's particularly worried about the impact on bees.

University of British Columbia bee researcher Alison McAfee says the extreme highs and lows are particularly dangerous to bumblebee populations since "false springs" could make queens emerge prematurely from hibernation.

McAfee says the queens could then be caught in a temperature downturn as they try to forage and start nests from scratch.

B.C. Cranberry Growers' Association executive director Mike Wallace says a drop in bee populations would affect the pollination of berry crops.

But Wallace says it's too early to say if the recent temperature swing has damaged populations of local bee species.

"Bees are necessary for good pollination and cranberries just like they are for all berry crops," Wallace said. 

Cattle have trouble adapting, ranchers say

The quick change in temperatures is also tough on cattle, said B.C. Cattlemen's Association general manager Kevin Boon.

He said ranchers in the province are paying close attention to the weather and taking measures such as providing shelter and bedding, as well as adjusting feed to protect their herds.

"It is hard on them because it was such a dramatic shift," Boon said. "They're much happier when it goes from cold to warm than warm to cold, I'll tell you that. But those make it very difficult ... for their body to adapt."

Boon said ranchers are also paying close attention to the warm weather melting snowpacks prematurely, which may exacerbate drought conditions that prevent farmers from growing enough feed for cattle.

"So we gotta hope that we get some more moisture to fill [reservoirs]," he said. "But it's not a time to panic yet by any stretch of the word."

For McAfee, the concern about bumblebees extends somewhat to honeybees, although beekeepers can help them manage temperature risks.

But she said some North American bumblebee species are already under pressure and are at risk of going extinct.

"Bombus occidentalis [the western bumblebee] is one native species to B.C. that used to be so common that it was used in commercial pollination and greenhouse operations, and now has been depleted to the point where I've actually never seen one," McAfee said. 

"I think that as the climate changes and we get these unpredictable weather patterns, we'll probably see more of these instances of false springs that are putting extra stress on bumblebees."