Thursday, July 9, 2026
Science

Robin study suggests fleeing isn't necessarily wildlife's first response to wildfire smoke

Research by Oregon State University biologists suggests that toxic air stemming from wildfires won't necessarily prompt animals to flee in search of better breathing conditions. The study of American robins led by OSU's Jamie Cornelius is one of the few to examine how wildfire smoke, an increasingly...

Robin study suggests fleeing isn't necessarily wildlife's first response to wildfire smoke
Image: Phys.org
Research by Oregon State University biologists suggests that toxic air stemming from wildfires won't necessarily prompt animals to flee in search of better breathing conditions. The study of American robins led by OSU's Jamie Cornelius is one of the few to examine how wildfire smoke, an increasingly common phenomenon as annual fire seasons become longer and more intense, affects animal behavior. OSU research associate Alex Jahn and graduate students Dorothy Zahor and Ken Glynn also worked on the study.

Originally published at Phys.org

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