Anthropogenic noise pollution has pervasive effects on wildlife communication, stress physiology, reproduction, and survival — representing a widespread but underappreciated welfare harm.
Noise pollution inflicts continuous, invisible harm on wildlife populations across habitats from ocean to forest. Unlike habitat destruction, noise harm is not visually apparent — it operates through stress physiology, behavioral disruption, and communication interference that accumulate over time. Marine mammals that rely on acoustic communication are particularly affected, but terrestrial species from birds to deer show documented physiological and behavioral harm from persistent anthropogenic noise. Policy frameworks rarely quantify this harm, allowing it to scale unchecked alongside transport, industry, and urban expansion.