Behavioral responses of terrestrial mammals to COVID-19 lockdowns

COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2020 reduced human
mobility, providing an opportunity to disentangle its
effects on animals from those of landscape modifications. Using GPS data,
we compared movements and road avoidance of 2300 terrestrial mammals (43
species) during the lockdowns to the same period in 2019.
Individual responses were variable, with no change in average
movements or road avoidance behavior, likely due to variable lockdown
conditions. However, under strict lockdowns, 10-day 95th percentile
displacements increased by 73%, suggesting increased landscape
permeability. Animals' 1-hour 95th percentile displacements declined
by 12%, and animals were 36% closer to roads in areas of high human
footprint, indicating reduced avoidance during lockdowns. Overall,
lockdowns rapidly altered some spatial behaviors, highlighting variable
but substantial impacts of human mobility on wildlife worldwide.