Climate change is not just shifting temperatures, it is rewriting the rules of survival for wolves, moose, and entire ecosystems. In this episode, research ecologist Toni Lyn Morelli explains what wildlife experiences as winters warm, snow disappears, parasites spread, and habitats become increasingly fragmented. Drawing from her work at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, Toni explores how animals respond to rapid environmental change and why species that seem adaptable may still be pushed beyond their limits.

We discuss the concept of umwelt, which helps us understand how animals experience the world differently from humans, as well as the effects of snow drought on cold-adapted species like wolves and moose. We examine the impact of winter ticks on moose, the importance of climate refugia, the role of habitat connectivity, and the shifting relationships between deer, moose, lynx, bobcats, and other wildlife. The conversation also explores whether species can move, adapt, or survive in landscapes divided by roads, cities, and human development.

This episode offers a thoughtful look at resilience, interdependence, and what wildlife can teach us about living through a rapidly changing world.

Morelli Lab

Climate Refugia

2026 Western Snow Drought Was About Four Times More Likely Caused by Climate Change

@thewolfconnectionpod

The Languages of Life