Severe drought squeezes Western animals, and cougars lose habitat nearly twice as fast as deer

Severe drought squeezes Western animals, and cougars lose habitat nearly twice as fast as deer

The West's ongoing dry spell is reshaping habitats and placing increasing pressure on wildlife, reducing reliable access to food, water, and hunting grounds. New research suggests these impacts are not evenly distributed, with predators facing some of the greatest stress as drought conditions disrupt prey availability and ecosystem balance. What happened? Research from the University of Michigan, reported by Wyoming Public Radio, points to droug…