Woodsmoke, whether from wildfires or domestic burning, has significant adverse effects on wild mammals, birds and insects in the UK, causing respiratory and cardiovascular problems, immune system suppression, and behavioural changes. These impacts stem from inhaling fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, and the various carcinogenic compounds found in woodsmoke. The impact varies by species, their proximity to the smoke source, and the intensity and duration of exposure. Many species visit or live in UK gardens and are being exposed to woodsmoke on a regular basis.
Birds are especially susceptible to air pollution due to to their highly efficient, unidirectional respiratory system, which means they inhale a higher concentration of toxins with each breath. This exposure to fine particulate matter from woodsmoke is inhaled deeply into their lungs and causes eye and respiratory tract irritation, reduced lung function, bronchitis, and asthma-like symptoms. The carbon monoxide in woodsmoke reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, leading to confusion, stupor, and potentially death.
Many species of small birds in the UK such as tits and wrens take shelter in nest boxes in winter to stay dry and keep out of the worst of the weather: others flock together in large roosts in trees in city centres where it’s warmer than the countryside and others nestle down in hedges in gardens. In all scenarios, birds are exposed to woodsmoke that they cannot escape from because woodburning mostly takes place in the evenings when it is dark. Not only are they breathing in these toxins, they’re also injesting them as they preen their soot and ash covered feathers.
Fight/Flight/Freeze response
When most animals smell smoke, their survival instincts are triggered and they try to escape the smoke because they know it means danger. They don’t know whether this smoke is from a controlled fire or if this is smoke from a wildfire. The smoke is the same and therefore triggers the same response. This panicked fleeing causes stress and leads to accidents, greater vulnerability to predators and displacement from their usual habitats.
Affects water quality
Ash and soot from woodsmoke settles on static pools of water such as garden ponds, bird baths and puddles degrading water quality. Many wild animals that visit gardens use these water sources and are dependent upon the water being clean.
Back in the 1930s when burning of coal and wood was commonplace, pulmonary diseases among the animals at inner city zoos was common. Many lions died from chronic bronchitis, fibrosis, and gangrene of the lungs associated with blackening of the lungs by dust deposit from solid fuel burning. Among birds fatal necrosis of the lung localised around carbon deposits in their lungs resulting in many deaths.
Winter is harsh enough on UK Wildlife without adding more air pollution in the form of woodsmoke to their burden.