Wild Things in the Lab: When Animals Outsmart Human Research

The great outdoors is a harsh mistress for scientists studying wildlife and their habitats. A recent story from Atlantic Canada illustrates the perils of conducting research in the wild, where the lines between observer and observed can become blurred. Lucas Brehaut, a wildfire research scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, has been investigating how forests regrow after forest fires – but his equipment has other plans.

Brehaut’s team was studying the effects of climate change on forest regeneration in Atlantic Canada using open-top chambers to mimic a warming planet. These mini-greenhouses are an ingenious tool for researchers, but they also seem irresistible to local wildlife. Eleven out of 19 sites have suffered significant damage – not just minor scuffs or trampling. Cameras set up around the sites captured images of caribou, moose, black bears, wolves, rabbits, and owls getting cozy in the OTCs, with some even making off with temperature sensors.

The animals’ behavior can be attributed to a combination of curiosity and mischief. Intelligent animals are naturally drawn to novel objects in their environment, which may be perceived as potential food sources or threats to investigate. As Kaitlyn Gaynor, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, points out, this behavior is not unique to wildlife research.

The implications for researchers working in the field are significant. It highlights the importance of respecting the natural world and its inhabitants. Brehaut’s team is not disrupting the ecosystem maliciously; they’re trying to understand it better. Researchers can take steps to minimize their impact on local wildlife by being mindful of their presence, leaving minimal scent behind, and camouflaging equipment.

Similar incidents have been reported in Mozambique, where Gaynor has seen baboons taking selfies with cameras and hyenas chewing through research equipment. In other regions, elephants have proven to be a destructive force in lab settings due to their intelligence and size.

Humans can also be destructive when it comes to field research. Brehaut’s team has encountered issues with accidental visitors knocking over equipment or stealing resources. It seems humans are not immune to trouble respecting the boundaries between observer and observed.

The story of Lucas Brehaut’s OTCs serves as a reminder that science is about understanding our place in the world – and respecting the wild things that live alongside us. Researchers should be prepared for the unexpected when working with nature, as anything can happen when studying wildlife. Next time you hear of scientists struggling to protect their equipment from curious wildlife, remember it’s not just about the animals being mischievous; it’s also about our own limitations as observers in the wild.