Analysis of human wildlife conflict call volume variation during the COVID-19 global pandemic protective measures in Florida

Abstract

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Assistance Biologists (WABs) receive calls from the public experiencing a wildlife conflict and provide guidance on how to coexist with native wildlife. This analysis considered how the number of calls and nature of calls received by WABs were impacted by COVID-19 pandemic protective measures in Florida. Total calls to WABs decreased during COVID-19 protective measures but did not vary significantly from the previous year. There was a significant decrease in the average weekly number of “Sick/Injured” wildlife calls and “Property Damage” calls when protective measures were in place. This analysis provides insight into how widespread changes in human mobility may impact reports of human-wildlife conflict.

Keywords

anthropause / call volume / COVID-19 Executive Orders / Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission / human mobility / human-wildlife conflict

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RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 The Author(s). Wildlife Letters published by Northeast Forestry University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.