Wildlife responses to pedestrians and dogs.

摘要: As participation in outdoor recreational activities escalates, land managers struggle to develop management policies that ensure coexistence of wildlife and recreation. How- ever, this requires an understanding how responds various forms recre- ational the spatial context which occur. Therefore, we measured responses 2 species grassland songbirds, one forest songbird, mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) exposed a pedestrian, pedestrian accompa- nied by dog on leash, alone (only for birds), away from trails. We assessed "area influence'l each treatment determining probability animal would flush or become alert (for only) given its perpendicular distance trail line movement areas without When ani- mals were disturbed, (the between disturbance when flushed), moved, and, deer, dis- tance it became alert). For all species, area influence, distance, deer) was greater occurred off-trail versus on-trail. Generally, among on-trail treatments grasslands vesper sparrows (Pooecetes gramineus) western meadowlarks (Sturnella neglecta), smallest influence shortest moved resulted dog-alone treatment, these pedestrian-alone dog-on-leash treatments. In forests, Amer- ican robins (Turdus migratorius), did not generally differ presence tance, than alone. Natural lands can implement behavioral restrictions visitor reduce turbance wildlife. Restrictions types allowed some such as prohibiting dogs restricting use trails will aid minimizing disturbance. Additionally, restrict number arrangement so sensitive habitats are avoided.