PARENT SESSION

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

BEHAVIORAL AND DIETARY ADAPTABILITY AND THE FATE OF MAMMALIAN CARNIVORES IN URBAN AREAS. Seth PD. Riley. Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, National Park Service, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA.

ABSTRACT- Some species persist and even thrive in urban areas while others decline or disappear from them. Why are some species more urban-adapted? Omnivorous species that can also adapt their behavior to avoid the threats of urbanization and take advantage of the resources available in cities are often particularly successful. Raccoons reach their highest densities in urban areas. Their nocturnal behavior allows them to avoid periods of human activity, but they can also adapt their denning behavior to utilize storm sewers, chimneys, and street or yard trees. Omnivorous canids such as red foxes, gray foxes, and coyotes often prosper in urban landscapes, as they include trash and ornamental fruit in their diets and use developed areas at night while frequenting natural habitats during the day. More carnivorous species such as bobcats can be more affected by urbanization, female bobcats in particular. However, bobcats still eat a wide variety of prey, and they can adapt to highly urban landscapes as well: giving birth behind houses, finding prey in landscaped areas such as golf courses, parks, or large yards, and sharing territories with closely related individuals in habitat restricted by roads and development. Mountain lions are perhaps one of the least flexible carnivores in terms of diet, as they are often deer specialists. However pumas also can adapt by avoiding periods of human activity and finding passages under roads and freeways. Carnivores certainly face some increased risks from humans in urban landscapes such as disease (raccoons, gray foxes), toxins (coyotes, bobcats), and vehicles. These risks are often present throughout the urban landscape, not just for animals that frequent developed areas. Understanding why some carnivores can persist in urban areas and what threats these populations face can help use conserve carnivores even in the face of this most extreme cause of habitat loss and fragmentation.

KEY WORDS: habitat loss, carnivores