Wild animals were nearly five times as likely to flee when they heard sounds of human recreation on a boombox than when natural sounds were played. Animals stayed vigilant nearly three times as long.
Wild animals were nearly five times as likely to flee when they heard sounds of human recreation on a boombox than when natural sounds were played, animals stayed vigilant nearly three times as long, and animal abundance at the site was depressed for a week after recreation noises had been played.
Researchers played recreation sounds at a level of about one or two groups using a trail each day, research biologist Kathy Zeller said, and sounds from large groups of hikers or mountain bikers were the most likely to disturb wildlife.
Fore more, see Katherine A. Zeller et al., Experimental recreationist noie alters behavior and space use of wildlife (2024).
More people than ever are vacationing in natural areas for the many physical and mental benefits that being in nature can provide, but visitors clearly need to be mindful of the negative impact on wildlife their presence can cause. Being quiet, highly vigilant and mindful are essential elements of respect, along with not littering and making fires.
I wish that all school children, beginning in grade school, learn mindfulness and self-composure by sitting still and silently together at the beginning of every school day for 3-minutes. This would enhance their ability to be quiet-and safe-when visiting wildlife areas, behave more mannerly around peers and adults, and would likely reduce the incidence of dog-bites, often in-home, when they are jumping around and not allowing animal companion animals to eat or rest in peace!