Articles tagged with Hunting
A new study found that mountain lions are dispersing from Nevada to California, rather than the expected influx of animals from California into Nevada. The research used DNA analysis to track the movement of 739 mountain lions over seven years, revealing distinct genetic populations and habitat preferences.
The analysis of Sinocalliopteryx gigas' abdominal contents suggests that these dinosaurs were adept stealth hunters capable of tackling prey over a third their size. The study also found evidence of eating bird-like dinosaurs and primitive birds, providing new insights into their hunting behavior.
A new study analyzing public basking shark sightings suggests an increase in the number of animals recorded in British waters since the 1980s. The researchers found a rise in medium and large-sized sharks, indicating an aging population, and identified three hotspots off South West England, Western Scotland, and the Isle of Man.
Researchers found that older and male dogs are more successful hunters in small-scale societies, with higher success rates than younger females. The study also revealed that early European farmers cast a wide net for food resources, diversifying their diet beyond crops and domesticated animals.
Specialty canines showcased their explosive-detecting abilities, keeping Marines alive and focused on missions. The dogs' improved physiology, nutrition, and olfaction enabled them to detect IEDs even at full speed.
A new study reveals that male chamois in different populations employ distinct breeding strategies, including 'terminal investment', where they focus on reproduction later in life. This variation could have implications for wildlife management, particularly when it comes to hunting practices.
Recent research in Madagascar reveals that illegal hunting of protected species, including lemurs, is widespread due to increasing appetites for meat and declining traditional taboos. The study suggests that improving access to domestic meats and disease control methods can help reduce pressure on wild species.
Chimpanzees from the Fongoli research site in Senegal frequently share plant food and hunting tools with other chimps, exhibiting behavior similar to humans. The study found that females commonly receive food from males, potentially as a future mating strategy.
The study identifies regions of the brain involved in tracking correlation, including the insula and anterior cingulate cortex. The researchers found that our brains learn to observe the outcome of one action and infer outcomes of other actions without needing to sample them individually.
Alaska Natives have reported warming temperatures, changes in vegetation patterns, and unpredictable weather conditions, affecting their traditional way of life. Thinning ice shortens winter travel seasons and hampers subsistence activities, while lower snowmelt flows strain local economies.
Researchers found hunter attitudes toward wolves inconsistent with stewardship, and existing game hunts are not suitable models for a potential wolf hunt. Support for regulated wolf hunting is conditional and varies among respondents.
Research suggests that the AD 1350 collapse of the Greenland Norse was caused by harsh climate conditions, making farming and cattle production difficult. The team's study used a marine sediment record to reconstruct climate change over the last 1500 years, highlighting the regional complexity of climate patterns in the study area.
The CDC study found that a significant proportion of respondents had traveled to countries with reported prion diseases, increasing the risk of exposure. Hunting and venison consumption were also associated with increased risk of prion disease exposure, particularly in areas with chronic wasting disease.
Harbour seals use their whiskers to sense shapes and sizes of objects in murky water. The team found that the seal could distinguish between paddles with different widths and shapes, including triangular, cylindrical, flat, and undulating paddles. This ability may help seals optimize energy intake while hunting.
A team of researchers has uncovered numerous artifacts on California's Channel Islands, revealing a diversified sea-based economy among North American inhabitants from 12,200 to 11,400 years ago. The discoveries include stemmed projectile points and crescents associated with shellfish, seals, and other marine animals.
The Wildlife Conservation Society has released a report listing 25 most endangered turtle species, many of which are found in Asia and are threatened by illegal hunting for food and the pet trade. The report calls for better enforcement of trade laws, habitat protection, and captive breeding to prevent extinction.
A Queensland University of Technology (QUT) statistician has found that villagers who live alongside orangutans are unaware of the laws protecting them, and many admit to killing the primates. The study suggests education campaigns tailored to specific areas and cultural groups can effectively target orangutan hunting.
A new study from Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science reveals that hunting at a drag-inducing position could be the basis for fish's unusual body shape. The researchers found that the increased cost of movement caused by body tilting was more than counterbalanced by increased sensory performance.
A new study suggests that setting time limits for hunting and fishing, rather than quotas, could help prevent wildlife population collapses. By limiting the number of days allowed for hunting and fishing, managers can better protect fragile species from over-exploitation.
Ferrets, introduced for rabbit hunting, are spreading across La Palma, with a growing population affecting the island's native fauna. The researchers found that the ferret population is directly related to prey availability and shelter in rural areas, highlighting concerns over their impact on bird species and endemic lizards.
The Cree people's centuries-old method of rotating hunting territories and killing only adult animals ensured stable moose populations. Modern authorities' reliance on aerial surveys and statistics led to a severe decline in Zone 17's population, but the traditional approach was initially disregarded.
Researchers at Purdue University emphasize the importance of understanding local human cultures in conserving African wildlife. Their study highlights how selective logging can help sustain local antelope populations, reducing hunting pressure on protected species.
A new study led by Dan MacNulty found that wolves' predatory ability peaks when they are two to three years old, not throughout their entire adult lives. The study suggests that physiology limits predation and that older wolves rely on athletic ability, which diminishes with age.
Researchers have sequenced DNA barcodes for 25 hunted wildlife species to monitor the elusive trade of wildlife products. The barcodes can help crack down on illegal bushmeat trafficking and support conservation efforts.
The world's largest fruit bat species, Pteropus vampyrus, is threatened with local extinction due to unsustainable hunting rates in Peninsular Malaysia. International protection is recommended to address the issue.
A six-year study led by Panthera demonstrates that conservation strategies can significantly increase leopard populations and reduce human-cat conflict. The study, published in Biological Conservation, found that implementing regulations to disperse hunting pressure across a province helped stabilize the population, leading to increase...
Scientists tracked white shark hunting patterns using geographic profiling, revealing that sharks refine search patterns with experience and concentrate efforts in prime hunting areas. The study expands knowledge of large predator hunting behavior and has implications for understanding marine communities.
A study by US-based researchers found that great white sharks use highly focused hunting methods, comparable to those of serial criminals. The research used geographic profiling techniques to analyze shark attack data and located the anchor point for younger sharks.
A University of Minnesota-led study finds that sport hunting is depleting lion and cougar populations, with management agencies often prioritizing human safety over conservation. The study suggests that new approaches are needed to protect humans and livestock while managing sport hunting.
A new study reveals human predation is accelerating trait changes in commercially harvested species, with 20% smaller body sizes and 25% earlier first reproduction compared to previous generations. This process has been observed at a rate 300% above natural systems and 50% faster than other human influences.
The Caspian seal population has dropped from over 1 million to just 100,000 due to commercial hunting, habitat degradation, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to establish protected areas and ban hunting to prevent further decline.
New research reveals that wolves prioritize seafood, specifically salmon, over deer when available. The study shows that wolves reduce deer hunting activity and focus on fishing during autumn when salmon is abundant.
The Wildlife Conservation Society has discovered a significant increase in western lowland gorillas, with a census showing over 125,000 individuals in the Republic of Congo. The census data revealed high densities of gorillas in some areas, indicating successful conservation efforts and a food-rich habitat.
Numerous studies have documented adverse effects of lead on wildlife, particularly waterbirds and scavenging species, due to ingested lead shot, bullets, and fishing sinkers. The use of lead ammunition remains common despite bans on waterfowl hunting, with upland game and scavenging birds continuing to be exposed.
A new study reveals that climate change led to habitat loss in mammoth territory, pushing the species towards extinction. Human hunting acted as the final straw, with scientists estimating that humans would only need to kill one mammoth every three years to push the species to extinction.
A recent study by Vanderbilt University reveals that shrews, despite their small size, employ highly developed hunting strategies. The researchers discovered that these tiny mammals can detect water movements, identify prey shapes using their whiskers, and utilize their sense of smell underwater.
Research reveals that specific males with strong catalytic effects initiate hunts, diluting prey defenses and increasing hunting likelihood. These 'impact hunters' are more likely to be successful and have a high success rate when hunting alone.
A team of scientists from WWF and Conservation International has discovered the world's largest known population of grey-shanked doucs, increasing chances that the endangered monkey can be saved from extinction. The population is estimated to have over 180 individuals, with significantly more potentially living in adjacent forest areas.
A new study by Samantha Price finds that large grazing animals face a higher risk of extinction under intense hunting pressure. The analysis reveals that reproductive speed is the key variable in determining extinction risk, with species like the American bison being nearly wiped out due to slow reproductive cycles.
Researchers found that bonobos were more tolerant and skilled in cooperative feeding than chimpanzees, exhibiting more sociosexual behavior and play. This suggests that social tendencies can hinder problem-solving under certain circumstances, highlighting the importance of emotional systems in evolutionary development.
Researchers observed chimpanzees using spear-like tools to hunt lesser bushbabies from cavities in hollow branches. The hunting behavior was systematic and consistent, suggesting it was habitual, but only successful in one of 22 recorded instances.
Researchers found that moths can detect and respond to bat calls, even when others cannot. The yellow underwing moth's ear adjusts its sensitivity in response to changing sound frequencies, allowing it to stay 'tuned' for up to several minutes after the call stops.
A new study reveals that human behavior can trigger a 'rarity effect' in endangered species, driving them into an extinction vortex. This phenomenon resembles the Allee effect, where low population densities increase extinction risk. The pursuit of rare species for luxury items or social status exacerbates this effect.
Researchers found archerfish automatically tune water force based on prey size, with strategy resistant to learning. The technique is also metabolically costly, with fish adjusting water mass for efficient force application.
A study of fossilized spiders from the Baltic and Dominican regions provides new insights into ancient spider ecologies. The research found that web-spinning spiders were larger in Baltic amber than in Dominican amber, with the size difference attributed to the type of trees in each region.
A new study examines the role of the 'showoff hypothesis' in social decisions among Hadza hunter-gatherers. Most participants chose to live with good hunters to gain access to more food and better nutrients, despite some men preferring poorer hunters to showcase their hunting prowess.
A new study challenges prior models of behavioral and cognitive differences between Neanderthals and modern humans. Researchers suggest that the establishment of larger social networks allowed for more extensive division of labor and routine use of distant resources, potentially driving the replacement of Neanderthals in the Caucasus.
A study has found that a primate virus, simian foamy virus, has jumped the species barrier to humans in Asia, primarily through contact with temple macaques. Researchers warn that limiting human-primate interaction can reduce transmission risks and protect both humans and monkeys from disease.
A study published in the Royal Society journal found that chimpanzees' tolerance for inequity increases with their social closeness, mirroring human responses based on relationship quality. This suggests a link between social connections and the sense of fairness in non-human primates.
A 30-year study suggests that declines in fish supply in Ghana lead to increased hunting, trade, and human consumption of wildlife. The researchers propose establishing alternative protein supplies and increasing protection of wildlife reserves to conserve biodiversity.
A team of scientists and volunteers counted fox faeces in 400 one-kilometre squares to estimate UK fox population, finding 225,000 adult foxes. Habitat features have a greater influence on fox numbers than hunting activities.
Studies of rural communities in Cameroon found that people exposed to blood or body fluids from primates during hunting have a higher risk of simian retrovirus infection. Genetic analysis revealed three geographically independent human infections, acquired from different primates.
Researchers developed a computer model to predict the effects of different hunting regimes on lion populations over 50 years. The study suggests that males aged 5 or older can be sustainably hunted without limits, while younger lions are prohibited to ensure population stability.
A recent survey found that attitudes towards wolves in Wisconsin are shaped more by cultural factors than individual experiences. Moderate support exists for wolf recovery statewide, with 73% of residents favoring maintaining or increasing wolf numbers. However, hunters and livestock producers exhibit greater intolerance towards wolves.
Research reveals that sport hunting depletes genes for big horns and fast growth in bighorn sheep populations, leading to a decline in trophy quality. The study's findings suggest that wildlife managers should explore alternative strategies to minimize further deterioration of the genetic quality of bighorn sheep.
Researchers from the University of Washington and Southern Methodist University conclude that climate change, not humans, was responsible for the extinction of Pleistocene mammals in the New World. The study found no evidence linking Clovis people to the extinctions, contradicting previous 'overkill' hypothesis.
Bushmeat consumption has been linked to chemical poisoning, with 30% of samples containing organochlorines, carbamates, and organophosphorus. The Ghana government aims to reverse the extinction of wildlife through sustainable alternatives like wildlife farming and education campaigns.
Researchers found that snakes relying on ambush foraging are more likely to be threatened due to habitat destruction and prey scarcity. The study identified six species not listed as threatened but with similar ecological traits, highlighting the need for closer management.
Researchers found that cooperative hunting and meat sharing may have been a key factor in the development of sociality. Early humans learned cooperation was necessary for survival, refining concepts like cooperation, cheating, and distribution.