Camera traps have revolutionized the way wildlife biologists study and monitor wild animals, providing valuable insights into their behavior and interactions with humans. A new study based on data from 102 camera trapping projects in 21 countries has shed light on the activity patterns of 163 different species of wild mammals, as well as the impact of human presence on these animals.
The study, which included data from North America, Europe, South America, Africa, and Asia, revealed interesting findings about how wild animals respond to human activity. During the pandemic lockdown period, some project sites saw a decrease in human activity while others experienced an increase. Researchers compared the activity of wild animals during periods of high and low human activity, regardless of whether the decreased activity occurred during the lockdown.
Carnivores, such as wolves and bobcats, were found to be highly sensitive to human presence, showing a significant drop in activity when humans were around. This could be due to a long history of conflict between carnivores and humans, with encounters often resulting in harm to the animals. On the other hand, large herbivores like deer and moose actually increased their activity when humans were present, possibly using them as a shield from carnivores.
Dr. Marlee Tucker, an ecologist at Radboud University in the Netherlands, praised the study for its ability to disentangle the different impacts of human activity on wild animals. The research highlights the complex relationships between humans and wildlife, and the importance of understanding these dynamics for conservation efforts.
Overall, the study underscores the value of camera traps in studying wildlife behavior and the need for continued research to protect and preserve the delicate balance between humans and animals in the wild.
