A recent study from the U.S. state of California finds that the public reported more encounters with wildlife in times of drought. Researchers say they expect such drought-driven human-wildlife interactions in other areas also facing water shortages — a growing problem amid climate change. The researchers analyzed more than 31,000 wildlife-related incidents reported by members of the public to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) between 2017 and 2023. The reports fell into four categories: property damage; general nuisance including negative interactions unrelated to property damage; instances when people believe an animal could potentially cause conflict; and simple sightings. Most reported incidents, more than 18,000, involved property damage. These ranged from attacks on livestock by pumas and coyotes, to landscaping damage by wild pigs and turkeys, to home damage by black bears. Researchers focused on the roughly 23,000 incidents of direct conflict involving property damage and general nuisance. They found that American black bears (Ursus americanus) were the most reported species, followed by wild pigs (Sus scrofa), pumas (Puma concolor), coyotes (Canis latrans), North American beavers (Castor canadensis), bobcats (Lynx rufus), wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), raccoons (Procyon lotor) and gray squirrels (Sciurus griseus). The study found a strong link between incident numbers and precipitation data: wildlife conflicts increased significantly as precipitation dropped. The total number of reported incidents increased 2.11% for every 25-millimeter (1-inch) decrease in precipitation. Moreover, areas with higher tree and population density were associated with increased reports of conflict, the study…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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