Predator protection dampens the landscape of fear

Apex predators structure ecosystems by hunting mesopredators and
herbivores. Their ecological influence is determined not only by the
number of animals they kill, but also by how prey alter their behaviours
to reduce risk. Predation risk is variable in space and time creating a
landscape of fear. In Australia, dingoes hunt red foxes and suppress their
populations. As both predators are commonly subjected to eradication
programs, the question arises whether humans alter the risk dingoes pose
to foxes and in turn alter the foxes’ avoidance behaviours. We studied the
spatio-temporal activity patterns and wariness behaviours of foxes and
dingoes at sites where they were protected (predator friendly), where they
were persecuted (predator persecuted), and at sites where foxes were
persecuted, and dingoes had been eradicated (dingo eradicated). The
landscape of fear hypothesis predicts that foxes will be the most
spatiotemporally restricted and most fearful at predator friendly sites,
and least restricted and fearful at dingo eradicated sites. We found that
fox occupancy was highest at dingo eradicated sites; and that they avoided
times of heightened dingo activity at predator friendly sites more than at
predator persecuted sites. Contrary to predictions, foxes were the least
fearful (lowest frequency of cautious and vigilant behaviour) and most
social (frequency of social interactions) at predator friendly sites. Our
findings suggest that in the absence of persecution, mesopredators living
with socially-stable apex predators can anticipate and avoid risk,
reducing the need for constant vigilance (i.e., fear). Where predators are
protected, predator avoidance may be driven by knowledge rather than fear
alone.