Lucas Brehaut, a wildfire research scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, faced unexpected challenges while studying forest regrowth in Atlantic Canada post wildfires. Despite the cooler and wetter climate in the region, forest fires are becoming more prevalent. Following a forest fire near Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L., in 2022, Brehaut embarked on a study to analyze forest regeneration amidst rising global temperatures due to climate change.
To simulate the effects of a warming planet, Brehaut and his team transported 19 open-top chambers (OTCs) into the forest and positioned them around planted seedlings. These OTCs act as miniature greenhouses, raising temperatures by one to three degrees. Currently in its third year out of five, Brehaut’s research encountered unexpected disruptions caused by various wildlife in the area.
Animals such as caribou, moose, black bears, wolves, rabbits, and owls showed a keen interest in Brehaut’s equipment. Surveillance cameras initially set up to monitor snow depth captured these animals damaging the greenhouses and even absconding with temperature sensors. Out of the 19 research sites, 11 experienced some form of harm, with animals not only trampling the greenhouses but also pilfering the sensors.
Despite facing setbacks, Brehaut maintains a positive outlook, understanding that wildlife interference is a natural consequence of conducting research in their habitat. He expresses appreciation for the animals’ curiosity and hopes they find joy in exploring, even if it disrupts his research efforts.
Kaitlyn Gaynor, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, explains that animal interference during research is a common occurrence worldwide. Intelligent animals, driven by curiosity, investigate new objects in their environment, potentially viewing them as food sources or threats. Bears, in particular, exhibit curiosity towards novel objects due to their omnivorous nature and keen sense of smell, often attracted by human scents left on equipment.
Gaynor’s own experiences in Mozambique highlight similar challenges, with baboons, hyenas, and elephants causing disruptions to research activities. She notes that animals, particularly elephants, can be destructive towards research equipment due to their intelligence and curiosity.
While wildlife interference poses challenges to research endeavors, Brehaut acknowledges that humans are not immune to causing disruptions, recounting incidents of snowmobiles inadvertently damaging his research sites during harsh winter conditions in Newfoundland.