Wildlife impacts during the pandemic

By Richard B. Primack
 

“All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant.”

- Henry David Thoreau in Walden

 
The pandemic dramatically reduced levels of human activity and provided a chance to learn about wildlife ecology, management and conservation. In many cases, less human activity allowed animals to change their behavior and explore new areas.  Elsewhere, reduced management resulted in increased poaching and other illegal activities, harming wildlife.

Mountain lions were less likely to be hit by vehicles during the pandemic and were more often seen in urban areas.
Photo from the NPS.

 
Many of these examples were gathered together by the new organization PAN-ENVIRONMENT and featured in a special issue of Biological Conservation. 
 
The goal of this effort was to use the pandemic as an opportunity to advance conservation science and improve the management of endangered species and protected areas.
 
This material also provided key background information for a popular article in National Wildlife about wildlife during the time of the pandemic: Room to Roam: The pandemic has offered scientists an opportunity to study how slowdowns in human activity impact wildlife. By Barry Yeoman, 2021. 

This material was also featured in the Wildlife Professional: Wildlife in the Pandemic: The “Big Experiment” wildlifers wish they never had. By Joshua Rapp Learn, 2021.