A researcher studying the impact of wildfires in Newfoundland’s wilderness has faced challenges from curious wildlife damaging his equipment. Lucas Brehaut, a wildfire research scientist, is investigating forest regrowth post wildfires in Atlantic Canada. Despite the cooler and wetter climate, forest fires are becoming more frequent in the region due to climate change.
To simulate the effects of a warming planet, Brehaut and his team placed 19 open-top chambers (OTCs) in the forest around seedlings they planted. These OTCs act as mini greenhouses, raising temperatures by one to three degrees. However, wildlife interference has disrupted the study, with animals like caribou, moose, black bears, wolves, rabbits, and owls damaging the equipment and even stealing temperature sensors.
Out of the 19 sites, 11 have experienced damage, leading to challenges in monitoring and collecting data. Despite setbacks, Brehaut remains understanding, acknowledging that wildlife behavior is natural in their habitat. Kaitlyn Gaynor, a professor at the University of British Columbia, explains that animals are naturally curious about novel objects in their environment and may investigate them for potential resources or threats.
The interference of wildlife with research equipment is a global issue, as Gaynor has encountered similar challenges during fieldwork in Mozambique, where animals like baboons, hyenas, and elephants have disrupted research activities. While animals are a common cause of equipment damage, Brehaut also noted instances of human interference, such as snowmobiles accidentally impacting study sites during snowy winters in Newfoundland.
