The Mere Presence of Humans—Not Just Our Changes to the Land—Can Alter Wild Animals' Behaviors, a New Study Suggests
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A recent study indicates that the mere presence of humans can significantly alter the behaviors of wild animals. Researchers analyzed GPS tracking data from 37 species and found that human activity influenced how these animals interacted with their environments. The findings suggest that both physical changes to the land and human presence must be considered in wildlife conservation efforts.
- ▪The study examined GPS tracking data from over 4,500 animals during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
- ▪Human presence caused common ravens to expand their range by ten square miles per week.
- ▪The effects of human presence on wildlife varied significantly among different species.
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The Mere Presence of Humans—Not Just Our Changes to the Land—Can Alter Wild Animals’ Behaviors, a New Study Suggests Researchers examined GPS tracking data from thousands of animals representing 37 species and anonymized cellphone location data from 2020, a year of Covid-19 lockdowns, and the previous year Sarah Kuta | Daily Correspondent May 26, 2026 10:00 a.m. ShareCopy linkEmailSMSFacebookXRedditLinkedInBlueskyPrintAdd as preferred source Human development—such as roads—affects wildlife. But so does the presence of people. Dave Kenny The world is in the throes of a biodiversity crisis, with numerous animal species declining or disappearing altogether.
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