[frivoal]

Alternatively, the animals aren't radiation hardened and do die of cancer, but not fast enough to get in the way of breeding and multiplying. Or, in other words, while radioactive waste is unhealthy, it fatality rate is lower than having humans around.

[nolok]

Or put another way : evolution and natural selection aren't about living a long time, they're about reproducing.

[Pica_soO]

Or put another way: Nothing is that poisonous that nature cant swallow it first and bring it underground, thus making nature the ultimate hipster.

[erikpukinskis]

... which is why nuclear holocaust is a risk for individuals and nations but not an extinction risk for the species as a whole.