Cougars Reduce Car Accidents by Altering Deer Habits
WHO:
Wired - The study was led by environmental scientist John Morgan of the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Phys.org - The study involves pumas, also known as mountain lions, cougars, or panthers.
WHAT:
Wired - The study analyzed 6 years of GPS data collected from 36 tagged wild mountain lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
sciencealert.com - Mountain lions (Puma concolor) attack just 4 to 6 people per year in North America.
sciencealert.com - Brown bears (Ursus arctos) attack, on average, around 11.4 humans per year.
sciencealert.com - Between the US and Canada, around 580 people are struck by lightning every year, which outnumbers brown bear attacks by roughly 50 to 1.
Phys.org - A study published in the journal Current Biology found that pumas change deer behavior, leading to fewer collisions with cars.
Phys.org - The authors report a significant reduction in the total expected number of collisions over a 5-year period in areas with high puma occupancy.
Wired - The study shows that cougars cause deer to move away from roads and deeper into the forest.
WHERE:
Phys.org - The study refers to areas where puma occupancy is high, though specific locations are not mentioned.
WHEN:
Phys.org - The study reports findings over a 5-year period.
WHY:
Wired - The behavior change in deer is attributed to the hunting activities of cougars, which reduces the risk of car crashes.
HOW:
Wired - The researchers mapped GPS data against data from the GPS fitness-tracking app Strava, which showed where and when people were hiking, biking, and using trails.
sciencealert.com - Mountain lions proactively avoid areas with high human activity by analyzing 6 years of GPS data from 36 tagged wild mountain lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Wired - Cougars alter deer movement patterns, leading them to avoid roads.
(UPDATED August 5, 2026 20:32 UTC)
A new study led by environmental scientist John Morgan from the University of California, Santa Cruz, has analyzed six years of GPS data collected from thirty-six tagged wild mountain lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The researchers mapped this data against information from the GPS fitness-tracking app Strava, revealing patterns of where and when people were hiking, biking, and using trails. This innovative approach sheds light on the interactions between wildlife and human activity in the region.
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(UPDATED August 5, 2026 18:28 UTC)
Mountain lions in North America attack only four to six people each year, while brown bears average around eleven point four attacks annually. Interestingly, between the US and Canada, approximately 580 people are struck by lightning each year, which is about fifty times more than the number of brown bear attacks. Research shows that mountain lions actively avoid areas with high human activity, based on six years of GPS data collected from thirty-six tagged wild mountain lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
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(UPDATED August 5, 2026 16:14 UTC)
A new study published in the journal Current Biology reveals that pumas, also known as mountain lions or cougars, significantly influence deer behavior, resulting in fewer car collisions. The research indicates that in areas with high puma occupancy, there is a notable reduction in the expected number of collisions over a five-year period, as cougars cause deer to move away from roads and deeper into the forest. This change in deer movement patterns is directly linked to the hunting activities of cougars, which ultimately lowers the risk of accidents on the road.