Wildlife Behavior in US National Parks: A Study of Human-Animal Interactions

Strategic Insights -

A recent study by a multinational team of wildlife scientists utilized GPS collar data to track the movements of 229 animals from 14 US national parks and protected areas, providing valuable insights into the behavior of large animals that call these parks home. The study, which compared animal movements during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic to a similar time frame in 2019, found that the presence of humans and human infrastructure has lasting effects on animal behavior within protected areas. The research team, consisting of over 60 scientists from 13 universities and nearly 40 other entities, including the National Park Service and state agencies, aimed to tease out whether animals shy away from human infrastructure like campgrounds, parking lots, roads, and trails, even in the absence of human beings.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that animals tend to avoid human infrastructure such as roads, trails, parking lots, buildings, and campgrounds, but responses varied across populations, species, and individual animals.
  • Some species, like bighorn sheep and mountain lions, are more wary of people than others, while others, such as mule deer and elk, have learned to associate humans with some benefit.
  • In some national parks, animals switched from avoiding human infrastructure when the park was open in 2019 to using it more when the park was closed in 2020, indicating that animals may be more willing to explore developed areas when people are absent.
  • However, in most other parks, avoidance of human infrastructure persisted even during lockdowns, suggesting that animals may take time to adjust to changes in human activity.
  • The researchers speculate that the relatively short duration of park closures may have limited the impact on animal behavior, particularly for those with low exposure to human development.
  • The study's findings highlight the importance of balancing recreation and conservation in national parks, with differing effects on species and individual animals.
  • The national parks' dual mandate to preserve natural and cultural resources while providing enjoyment to people poses a challenge in managing human-wildlife interactions.
  • The study provides evidence that conservation is compatible with recreation at low levels but that some areas should remain exclusively for wildlife.

Statistics:

  • 229 animals from 14 US national parks and protected areas were tracked using GPS collar data.
  • The study compared animal movements during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic to a similar time frame in 2019.
  • The researchers found that animal avoidance of human infrastructure persisted even during lockdowns in most parks, with 58 days being the average duration of park closures.
  • The national parks hosted more than 327 million visits in 2019 and a record 331.9 million visits in 2024.
  • The study provides evidence that conservation is compatible with recreation at low levels, but that some areas should remain exclusively for wildlife.

Sources:

  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln
  • University of British Columbia
  • National Park Service
  • Proceedings of the Royal Society B (July 30, 2025)