A new UCLA study shows that the more rain we get, the fewer bears and wildcats venture into populated areas in California.
Kendall Calhoun, postdoctoral researcher at UCLA and UC Davis, conducted the study. He told KNX News’ Emily Valdez that they found a “significant response” to drought and increases in reported conflict with bears, mountain lions, and coyotes.
He said the carnivores aren't attacking people, but rather looking for food.
“Black bears often get into conflict by getting into people's houses or garbage bins or other things to get at like leftover food or other things, and while doing that, they can damage property, which people report,” he told KNX News’ Emily Valdez. “Oftentimes [with] bobcats and mountain lions, a lot of the conflict related to them is when they take livestock.”
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One hypothesis, he said, is that there are a few plans to eat in the drought, which means fewer critters like rabbits and deer, meaning the predators have to venture out.
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