Lucas Brehaut, a wildfire research scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, is facing unexpected challenges in his study of forest regeneration post wildfires in Atlantic Canada. Despite the cooler and wetter climate in the region, forest fires are becoming more prevalent. Following a forest fire near Grand Falls-Windsor, N.L. in 2022, Brehaut embarked on a research project to examine forest regrowth under the influence of climate change-induced rising temperatures.
To conduct his study, Brehaut and his team had to transport 19 open-top chambers (OTCs) through rugged terrain and install them around newly planted seedlings. These OTCs function as mini greenhouses, elevating temperatures by one to three degrees to simulate the impact of global warming. Currently in its third year of a five-year study, Brehaut’s research has encountered significant disruption from local wildlife.
Various animals, including caribou, moose, black bears, rabbits, coyotes, and owls, have been interfering with Brehaut’s equipment, causing damage and even pilfering temperature sensors. Surveillance cameras initially set up to monitor snow depth have revealed the extent of the animals’ intrusion, with 11 out of 19 sites suffering damage at some point. Despite the setbacks, Brehaut maintains a positive outlook, acknowledging the animals’ natural curiosity and behavior within their habitat.
Kaitlyn Gaynor, an assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, explains that animals, particularly intelligent species like bears, are naturally drawn to novel objects in their environment due to potential food sources or perceived threats. Our scent on research equipment can also attract animals, leading to interference. Gaynor suggests strategies such as minimizing human presence and masking equipment to reduce animal disturbance.
Animal interference in research projects is a global phenomenon, as seen in Gaynor’s work in Mozambique where baboons, hyenas, and elephants have been known to disrupt research activities. Elephants, in particular, pose a challenge due to their destructive behavior. Brehaut has also faced challenges from human interference, with snowmobiles inadvertently damaging his research sites during snowy winters in Newfoundland.