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posted by n1 on Wednesday November 18 2015, @07:13AM   Printer-friendly
from the submitter-took-my-job dept.

When most wild animals first encounter humans, they respond as they would to any predator—by running, swimming or flying away.

Over time, some species become more tolerant of humans' presence, but the extent to which they do is largely driven by the type of environment in which the animals live and by the animal's body size, according to a comprehensive new analysis.

Researchers led by Daniel Blumstein, a professor and chair of ecology and evolutionary biology in the UCLA College, analyzed 75 studies conducted over the past half-century of 212 animal species—mostly birds, but also mammals and lizards. The scientists estimated species' tolerance to human disturbance by comparing how far away from humans an animal would have to be before it fled—a statistic called "flight initiation distance."

The paper was published today in Nature Communications.

Among the findings:

  • Birds in more heavily populated urban areas are much more tolerant of humans than birds in rural areas.
  • Larger birds are more tolerant of humans than smaller birds.

Why Are Some Wild Animals More Tolerant to Human Interaction Than Others? No.


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  • (Score: 2) by frojack on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:03PM

    by frojack (1554) on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:03PM (#265045) Journal

    Yes, these birds with flat bills are all bluff and bluster. They can pinch a little but they are harmless. In fact, if you simply stand your ground or advance when they start their attacks they usually go away.

    Hawks and Eagles will tear your hands to shreds. At the raptor center in my town, the handlers wear face shields and thick leather gloves up to their elbow.

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  • (Score: 2) by hankwang on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:39PM

    by hankwang (100) on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:39PM (#265065) Homepage

    OTOH, I wouldn't challenge a swan when I'm in the water.

  • (Score: 2) by HiThere on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:41PM

    by HiThere (866) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday November 18 2015, @08:41PM (#265072) Journal

    Geesee aren't *all* threat and bluster, but they aren't nearly as dangerous as they sometimes pretend. But there's a reason for the term "goosed". And there's also a reason that it was often the job of young girls to look after them.

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