Lockdowns Led to Increased Animal Movement, Decreased Human Travel

A global study published in Science found that wild mammals roamed more freely during pandemic-related shutdowns in early 2020, based on data collected by location-tracking tags affixed to 2,300 animals from 43 species. In places with the strictest lockdowns, the animals’ long-distance movements over a 10-day period increased by 73 percent, suggesting that the animals were ranging more widely and expanding their habitats. The study reinforces previous findings that many wild animals change their behavior when cars disappear, and suggests that temporary limits on traffic could have benefits for animals.