יואל, פרק א׳, פסוק כ׳

The devastation of the locust plague is magnified by a severe, simultaneous drought, spreading ruin far beyond human cities and deep into the open wilderness. The disaster strikes the wild animals and desert creatures that roam free, far from human control and cultivated pastures.

These wild beasts lift their voices to God in a deep, desperate groan born of heavy thirst, much like the distinct call of a deer longing for water [רש״י, מצודת ציון, מלבי״ם]. This cry is a deeply solitary experience, with every single animal crying out individually in its own distress [רד״ק, אבן עזרא]. Their mourning completes a tragic metaphorical picture, where even the trees of the open fields seem to call out to God against the destruction [אבן עזרא]. There is also a profound moral dimension to their voices. The wild animals seem to cry out in protest, asking why they must endure such harsh punishment and starvation as a result of human sins [מלבי״ם].

The root of their suffering is the complete drying up of the deep riverbeds, where strong currents of water would normally flow [מצודת ציון, אבן עזרא]. While the locusts have stripped the land near human settlements, wild animals wandering far away might still manage to find small patches of moist grass. However, without water in the riverbeds, survival is impossible, as their absolute need to drink overrides their need for food [רד״ק].

Furthermore, the fierce heat and drought have completely consumed the desert pastures where shepherds normally pitch their tents, leaving the landscape looking as if it had been scorched by fire [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. This environmental collapse sets off a deadly chain reaction. Because the grazing lands are burned dry, shepherds no longer bring their flocks into the wilderness. Consequently, the wild predators that rely on hunting these domestic animals are left entirely without prey, forcing them into starvation [מצודת דוד].