Thousands of red-winged blackbirds were reported dead in Beebe, Arkansas. They fell from the sky on New Year's Eve and residents stepped outside on the first day of 2011 to find their bodies scattered everywhere. Roads and yards were littered with the carcasses and the unanswered question of 'How did these birds die?' locked the town in an ominous still.

The internet, as expected, was right behind the citizens of Beebe. Articles and videos and Facebook statuses started referencing this shocking occurrence and the buzz went a little haywire when... 100,000 drum fish were found dead in Arkansas days later. The fish were washed ashore along a 20-mile expanse of the Arkansas River, over 100 miles away from Beebe, but still too close for comfort.

The bird deaths and the fish deaths are said to be unrelated, and they probably are, but this whole thing has people everywhere paying more attention to the mass deaths in wildlife being witnessed all over the world.

• Tens of thousands of dead fish were found in the Chesapeake Bay.
• 500 birds were reported dead in Louisiana.
• 50-100 dead birds were found strewn in lawns in Sweden.
• Kentucky residents are reporting dead birds.
• 40,000 dead crabs washed up on England's shores.
• 530 penguins, numerous other seabirds, five dolphins, and three giant sea turtles dead in Brazil.
• 200 American Coots were found dead on Texas bridge.
• Thousands of fish have been found dead in Florida.
• Hundreds of snapper fish have been found dead in New Zealand.

These are just a few instances of mass animal deaths across the globe in recent news. So what's going on? Creating a correlation between these deaths has sparked (of course) apocalyptic theories all over the internet. Some say it's 2012, some say the Bible's rapture is nearing, and meanwhile, scientists are clamoring, saying these are all unrelated.

Are they really unrelated? Has the internet given us too much ability to connect unconnected dots and spin fear mongering predictions?

No matter the reason, protecting our wildlife is an integral component of fructifying travel, so lets discuss.

And if you want to read more before offering your opinion, read about the Top 10 Strange Mass Animal Deaths at Time.

[photo by Elizabeth Seward]

Filed under: Activism, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, United Kingdom, United States, New Zealand, Brazil, Ecotourism