Animals keep damaging wildfire research equipment in Newfoundland
Wildfire research in Newfoundland tracks forest regrowth after fires and damage Wildlife and snowmobiles keep testing the study—see how researchers adapt
A wildfire researcher in Newfoundland is dealing with repeated damage to equipment used in a fiveyear study on how forests recover after fires. Lucas Brehaut is examining regrowth in Atlantic Canada after a 2022 fire near Grand FallsWindsor, with opentop chambers meant to simulate warmer conditions.
According to the report, caribou, moose, black bears, wolves, rabbits and owls have interfered with the study sites. In some cases, animals smashed the chambers or removed temperature sensors, and 11 of 19 sites have been damaged at least once.
Researchers say the behavior is not unusual because curious animals often investigate unfamiliar objects in their habitat. The story also notes that human activity has caused some damage, including snowmobiles running over plots during winter.