Climate change is bringing earlier springs, but it's wreaking havoc on animals

With Canada coming out of its warmest winter on record, some may be enjoying the signs of spring that are showing up much earlier this year: plants beginning to pop up out of the ground, the earlier calls of robins or migrating birds or even just the warmer and sunnier days.

But this isn’t good news for the natural world.

Climate change is altering the way animals, insects and plants behave, and has cascading effects in delicately balanced ecosystems.

With longer springs, ticks are moving northward, bringing the chance of disease in animals and humans alike.

Likewise, mosquitoes — another disease carrier — are