Biology subjects

Adaway, K.

Publications and source records attributed to Adaway, K..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Beliefs about a widely popularised human-wildlife conflict are largely unreflective of local experiences and ecological data in wild red foxes, Vulpes vulpes

Human-driven environmental changes, such as urbanisation, are increasing human-wildlife interactions, creating potential for conflict. Public beliefs and experiences with local wildlife are central to the success of place-based conservation initiatives, such as urban rewilding, because they impact public attitudes and tolerance of those species within neighbourhoods. Few studies, however, have examined whether peoples beliefs align with their real-life observations of wildlife within their local area and, more importantly, whether (or how) their beliefs might impact public attitudes independently of local experiences with those animals. The current study addressed this gap by assessing whether public beliefs about a conspicuous human-wildlife conflict - bin-raiding behaviour - aligned with residents own local experiences with a familiar and widespread urban carnivore, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes). The study also examined whether beliefs about bin-raiding predicted attitudes towards foxes even when people lacked firsthand observations of such behaviour within their area. Beliefs and attitudes towards foxes were evaluated using a nationwide questionnaire administered to 1,275 participants in the United Kingdom. Ecological surveys were also conducted in the city of Hull, UK, to compare public attitudes and beliefs (N= 248 households) with objective data on outdoor bin disturbances (N=4,239 bins) from the same area. Nationally, most respondents (59.3%) believed that foxes raid bins despite significantly fewer of these people (21.7%) having witnessed it firsthand within their neighbourhood. In Hull, <1% of bins showed evidence of disturbance even though significantly more residents (16.9%) believed foxes raided bins than the number of residents who had actually seen it happen. Among national and local Hull residents with no local experience observing bin-raiding foxes, these beliefs were nevertheless associated with more negative attitudes towards them. Together, these findings highlight the importance of taking into account other factors beyond local experiences (e.g., socio-cultural norms) when interpreting local reports of human-wildlife conflict, especially for place-based conservation.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2025

Time in the city: Exploration and problem-solving behaviours reveal long-term urban adaptation in wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Urbanisation is one of the most important forms of human-driven landscape change, altering wildlife populations in unprecedented ways. In terms of behaviour, for example, urbanisation is hypothesised to increase the likelihood of observing urban populations touching, exploring, and solving novel food-related tasks compared to rural areas. However, little is known about the impact of spatiotemporal patterns of urbanisation, particularly historical patterns of change, on these behaviours. We tested this in the worlds most urbanised carnivore, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), by introducing novel food-related tasks (puzzle feeders) to 284 sites throughout Great Britain. We compared tactile and problem-solving behaviours in rural populations, recently colonised urban populations, and long-established urban populations (>40 years). Foxes from 27.4% of locations touched the tasks, foxes from 12.4% of locations solved them. Urban foxes were more likely to touch tasks compared to rural populations. Exploration time, exploratory diversity, and latency to touch tasks did not significantly differ across urban and rural locations. Urbanisation rate from 1994 to 2020 (26 years) did not significantly predict the likelihood of foxes touching or solving tasks across locations. Older urban populations - particularly from London - spent more time exploring tasks and displayed greater exploratory diversity and higher problem-solving success, despite more recent urban populations being equally likely to touch them. Collectively, our findings suggest that certain population characteristics, such as the likelihood of touching/engaging with novelty, potentially emerge early in urbanisation while other characteristics, such as greater exploratory and innovative behaviours, may emerge after long-term urban exposure across many decades. HighlightsO_LIHistorical impacts of urbanisation on wild animal behaviour are unclear. C_LIO_LIWe tested this with wild red foxes responses to novel food objects. C_LIO_LIUrban foxes were more likely to touch and exploit objects, especially from London. C_LIO_LIOlder urban foxes displayed more exploratory and innovative behaviours. C_LIO_LILength of urban exposure may help predict behavioural responses to novelty. C_LI

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2025

Spatial distribution of human-wildlife interactions predicts coexistence with a global urban carnivore, the red fox

Despite growing recognition that spatial factors such as urbanisation and geographic region shape human-wildlife interactions, few studies have examined - on a large geographic scale - how spatial factors reflect the subjective human dimensions to those interactions, including public attitudes and self-reported encounters with wildlife. Understanding how spatial factors shape these dimensions may have implications for urban rewilding because they can reflect local tolerance of animals and may potentially predict human-wildlife interactions. We examined how urbanisation type and geographic region are related to peoples attitudes, reported encounters (public feeding and bin-raiding), and reported use of control measures towards the worlds most urbanised terrestrial carnivore, the red fox, Vulpes vulpes. Online survey data were obtained from 1,275 participants in the United Kingdom. Reports of fox bin-raiding were associated with increased reports of wildlife feeding, more negative attitudes towards foxes, and greater reported use of professional and do-it-yourself control measures. However, the role of spatial factors varied among these relationships. Specifically, urbanisation and geographic region significantly predicted reports of fox binraiding, with urban residents - particularly from London - more likely to report such behaviour. Urbanisation predicted reports of wildlife feeding and use of professional pest control of foxes within their area. Geographic region predicted reports of do-it-yourself control measures. Neither urbanisation nor geographic region significantly predicted public attitudes towards foxes. Together, these findings highlight the complex interactions between spatial context and the subjective human dimensions of wildlife interactions, underscoring the importance of nuanced, context-specific strategies to support human-wildlife coexistence and urban rewilding initiatives. HighlightsO_LIUrban rewilding success depends on public tolerance of local wildlife. C_LIO_LIWe studied spatial factors and subjective human dimensions of fox interactions. C_LIO_LIReports of bin-raiding, wildlife feeding, fox-related attitudes, and pest control covaried. C_LIO_LIThe role of urbanisation and geography varied in predicting these reports. C_LIO_LISuch spatial complexity should be considered in designing urban rewilding strategies. C_LI

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

No evidence that urbanisation encourages wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to exploit unfamiliar food-related objects when first discovered

Urbanisation is the fastest form of landscape transformation on the planet, but researchers understanding of the relationships between urbanisation and animal adaptability is still in its infancy. In terms of foraging, bold and innovative behaviours are proposed to help urban animals access, utilise, and exploit novel anthropogenic food sources. Red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) are one of the best known and widespread urban-dwelling species. However, despite frequent stories, images, and videos portraying them as "pests" due to their exploitation of food-related objects (e.g., raiding the contents of outdoor bins), it is unknown whether they are bolder and more innovative in terms of their likelihood of exploiting these resources compared to rural populations. In the current study, we gave novel food-related objects to foxes from 104 locations (one object per location) across a large urban-rural gradient. To access the food, foxes had to use behaviours necessary for exploiting many food-related objects in the real world (e.g., biting, pushing, pulling, or lifting human-made materials). Despite all foxes acknowledging the objects, foxes from 31 locations touched them, while foxes from 12 locations gained access to the food inside. A principal component analysis of urban and other landscape variables (e.g., road, greenspace, and human population density) revealed that urbanisation was significantly and positively related to the likelihood of foxes touching, but not exploiting, the objects. Thus, while urban foxes may be bolder than rural populations in terms of their willingness to physically touch novel food-related objects, our findings are inconsistent with the notion that they are more innovative and pose a general nuisance to people by exploiting these anthropogenic resources. HighlightsO_LIThe impact of urbanisation on animal adaptability remains unclear C_LIO_LIBold and innovative behaviour may help some urban species thrive C_LIO_LIWe studied wild red foxes responses to novel food-related objects C_LIO_LIUrban foxes were bolder, but not more innovative, than rural foxes C_LIO_LIUrbanisation may favour bolder, not more innovative, fox behaviour C_LI

animal behavior and cognition↗