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Bogus stories of wild animals flourishing in quarantined cities gives false hope

nationalgeographic.com

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Re: Bogus stories of wild animals flourishing in quarantined cities gives false hope

#11
post #9

I wouldn't be surprised about behavioral responses in wildlife to reduced human activity outdoors. But anything substantial will take time. For example, if some village were abandoned, I'd expect that native plants and animals would move back in, over some years. I also wouldn't be surprised if 2020 greenhouse emissions were less than in 2019. And indeed, it might take some years to recover the rate of increase. And…

Every year 130~million are born 55~60million die. Corona virus is not going to effect the population growth rate at all. Infact because of the lock downs chances are 9-10 months from now the number of babies being born will be a lot higher than normal.

Hey, another baby boom :)

Re: Bogus stories of wild animals flourishing in quarantined cities gives false hope

#12
post #9

I wouldn't be surprised about behavioral responses in wildlife to reduced human activity outdoors. But anything substantial will take time. For example, if some village were abandoned, I'd expect that native plants and animals would move back in, over some years. I also wouldn't be surprised if 2020 greenhouse emissions were less than in 2019. And indeed, it might take some years to recover the rate of increase. And…

There are lots of wildlife in big cities as long as there are some relatively quiet ecological tunnels left there (usually around the rivers). I'd expect it to take weeks, maybe even days with good weather and some luck, to get animals like deers or boars to roam freely across the whole city (they already do at night in some places) if humans had suddenly disappeared.

However, unlike those from some of the currently viral reports, these animals are already there - they're just pretty good at hiding from humans, so most people don't even realize it.

Re: Bogus stories of wild animals flourishing in quarantined cities gives false hope

#14
post #8
post #6

I live in a Pasadena and we have a fair amount of coyotes. It seems like they’re out in force based on everyone on Ring posting videos of coyotes running through yards. Normally it’s one or twice a week, but scrolling through my neighborhood alerts now, it’s been everyday for the last week. Can’t wait for the bears and mountain lions to get bored.

I wonder how much of it is due to more people being home/bored and seeing the coyotes?

Probably mostly this, but I also notice a major uptick in my own daylight Coyote sightings in the early spring. My assumption has always been that this is breeding season and animals with new pups are forced to spend more of their time foraging.

Re: Bogus stories of wild animals flourishing in quarantined cities gives false hope

#15
post #8
post #6

I live in a Pasadena and we have a fair amount of coyotes. It seems like they’re out in force based on everyone on Ring posting videos of coyotes running through yards. Normally it’s one or twice a week, but scrolling through my neighborhood alerts now, it’s been everyday for the last week. Can’t wait for the bears and mountain lions to get bored.

I wonder how much of it is due to more people being home/bored and seeing the coyotes?

It’s actual videos on the Ring camera’s “social” network. 8 vids in the last 10 days. Not sure if it’s the same pack of coyotes or not.

I assumed it was more food waste in garbage cans since everyone is at home.

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