As Animals Confront Us, We Must Blame Ourselves

Last month, Undercurrent reported that a river dolphin nearly bit off a woman's foot in Bolivia, a rare and extraordinary occurrence. In the same month, an elephant killed a man in Kenya, and an alligator drowned a woman in Florida.

According to a new study by University of Washington researchers published on February 27 in the journal Nature Climate Change, climate change may be increasing the frequency of violent encounters between humans and wild animals.

"We found evidence of conflicts between people and wildlife exacerbated by climate change on six continents, in five different oceans, in terrestrial systems, in marine systems, in freshwater systems - involving mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and even invertebrates," said Briana Abrahms, a UW assistant professor of biology.

Shifting weather patterns affect wildlife behaviors. Warmer air and ocean temperatures in a severe El Niño have led to an increase in shark attacks in South Africa.

Rising temperatures in the Arctic have melted sea ice, leaving polar bears with diminished food sources. As a result, they look for food on land, increasing their confrontations with humans.

In Tanzania, lions' usual prey have migrated away from floodplains, prompting more attacks on humans.

The researchers expect human-wildlife conflicts to increase as climate change intensifies, so studying this link can help policymakers find solutions.

One success story lies in California waters. In 2014 and 2015, a record number of humpback and blue whales became entangled in fishing lines off the coast. Research later showed that an extreme marine heat wave had driven whales closer to shore to follow their primary food sources. California regulators now adjust the start and end of each fishing season based on climate and ocean conditions delaying the season if whales and fishing gear are likely to come into close contact.

"These examples show us that once you know the root causes of a conflict, you can design interventions to help both people and wildlife," said Abrahms. "We can change."