Another major cause of extinction is global warming , which is also known as global climate change. During the past century, the Earth's average temperature has risen by almost 1°C (about 1.3°F). You may not think that is significant, but to organisms that live in the wild and are constantly adapting to their environments, any climate change can be hazardous. Recall that burning fossil fuels releases gasses into the atmosphere that warm the Earth. Our increased use of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, is changing the Earth’s climate. Any long-term change in the climate can destroy the habitat of a species. Even a brief change in climate may be too stressful for an organism to survive. For example, if the seas increase in temperature, even briefly, it may be too warm for certain types of fish to reproduce.
To help hide from predators the snow hare has evolved to turn white in winter to blend in with the snow. But in recent years winters have been warmer and the snow is melting earlier than usual. Without snow on the ground the white hares stand out more and are easy prey for predators including foxes and coyotes.
What animal is being harmed by the shorter winter?