How Does Habitat Fragmentation Affect Biodiversity?

Habitat fragmentation affects both wildlife and us.

By Dana Benner
Updated on October 10, 2024
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by Dana Benner

What is an edge habitat, and how does habitat fragmentation affect biodiversity in these areas? Learn about the critters and wildlife that live in between these zones, how they have adapted, and the limitations they face.

The coyote darted out, trying to make it across the road that divided two viable edge habitats. The car in front of me, for whatever reason, never slowed down, and it certainly didn’t stop after it hit the coyote, an animal the size of a medium domestic dog.

While the other driver kept on their way, I stopped. The coyote, a female, was still alive, but she was in very bad shape, and there was nothing I could do for her. All I could do was stay with her until she died. I spoke to her the entire time, and I sang her a death song. I asked the Creator to help her as she crossed over and to forgive me for not doing more. When she died, I removed her body from the road and placed her in the field near where she crossed. I then burned sage and tobacco and said a prayer for her.

The image of her eyes as she died made me both mad and sad. I was sad that her life was over and that there was no way for me to help her. I was mad that humans develop everything and put roads everywhere. I was mad that uncaring people caused this incident in the first place. Her death also made me look more thoughtfully at this edge habitat we’ve created.

Among Native peoples, we have a saying and belief that all beings are related. We believe with all of our hearts that two-legged ones (humans) don’t own the earth, air, or water. We believe that we share this world with the four-legged ones, the winged ones, and those that swim. Everything we do affects all. I lost a “sister” when that female coyote died, but it wasn’t only me who lost. All of us lost something when this needless death happened.

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