Source: Scientific American
A new study published in Current Biology suggests that mountain lions may improve public safety by reducing deer-vehicle collisions. Researchers analyzed five years of data from Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, including information from 503 camera traps, 59 GPS-collared mountain lions, and more than 950 deer and elk collisions with vehicles. They found that areas with higher mountain lion activity experienced a 76% reduction in deer-related crashes.
Rather than lowering deer populations through predation, the big cats altered deer behavior by creating a “landscape of fear.” Deer became less likely to remain near roads, instead moving into more remote, heavily vegetated areas and shifting more of their activity to daylight hours, when drivers can see them more easily. Researchers say the findings highlight an often-overlooked ecological benefit of large predators, suggesting that conserving mountain lions could save human lives, reduce injuries, lower property damage, and decrease the billions of dollars lost annually to deer-vehicle collisions.
Read the full story HERE: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-living-near-mountain-lions-might-actually-make-you-safer/