Issues and Concerns
“There is a growing body of scientific literature demonstrating significant and damaging cumulative impacts from sudden noise and aircraft on wildlife – on their sense of security, including in denning habitat, comfort while birthing and raising their young, and their preferred foraging habitat. Helicopters and airplanes can displace wildlife, and trash their energy budgets, and it is cumulative. You could say a plane is just flying over twice a day, but how many days, how many months, how many other flights? All of these flights have a terrible impact on wildlife, leading to chronic stress, increased cortisol levels, compromised immune systems, hypertension and other problems. We really need to keep in mind the combined effects of seemingly benign, simple events on wildlife, and the research is making this clear. Many leading scientists, including the late E.O. Wilson, call for some areas to be left alone for biodiversity and wildlife, without the continual intrusion of people. We must do this in order to save the fabric of life as we know it. Where will these areas be in each of our towns in Vermont?”
Susan Morse, Founder and Lead Scientist, Keeping Track
Nervous Hidden Infant at Cliffy Refugia © Susan C. Morse