Where are Threnody's animals?

[+Oltux72]

Threnody's forests are empty of animal life because the Shades enforce the Simple Rules towards animals, too. That explains why the forests are so empty. But it opens up another question: Where are the Shades of all those animals? All Shades we see are human or so old that you cannot tell. But why do they assume that they were all human? The people in the forests ride horses and keep animals. There must be animals falling victims to Shades even today.

We have one clue. Old Shades dissipate. If they totally dissolve due to old age, we can assume that animal Shades last a lot less long or even don't form in the first places. Why? The obvious explanation would be that they start out with less investiture. That means that the creation and upkeep of Shades is powered by the users and that investiture is continously lost. I think we have found an end-negative system.
Does that proof that the killing and repelling of Shades with silver is also powered by the victims, that is the Shades? Strictly speaking, no. But if you assume otherwise the same result would have to be achieved in two different ways.

[Snipexe]

Quote

AndrewStirlingMacDonald

Are there any animal Shades?

Brandon Sanderson

Yes.

Calamity Philadelphia signing (Feb. 20, 2016)

We also haven’t seen that much of Threnody yet, and the areas we have seen aren’t likely to have much livestock. I wouldn’t be surprised if in areas where there are farms animal shades are more common.

[+Oltux72]

2 hours ago, Snipexe said:

We also haven’t seen that much of Threnody yet, and the areas we have seen aren’t likely to have much livestock. I wouldn’t be surprised if in areas where there are farms animal shades are more common.

Consider how mice, squirrels and other small animals outnumber people in a forest. Hence animal Shades don't last long.