zth3557
Not Afraid
On September 12th at 4:29PM, a cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) and an eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) were spotted on the path between Blanton-Nason-Brewer Hall and Missouri Hall. I was easily able to walk up to both animals and take a picture of them. I believe this was possible due to adaptations by both animals and a change in how they process humans within their landscapes of fear. Due to generations of both animals (most likely) living on campus surrounded by non-hostile humans, their landscape of fear changed from avoiding humans to living together in a "if you do not bother me, I will not bother you" environment. This increasingly-safe environment will let both animals create longer and more fit offspring as they do not need to allocate resources to defense or creating many offspring.
Link to sources: extension2.missouri.edu/g9412
nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-gra...
Not Afraid
On September 12th at 4:29PM, a cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) and an eastern fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) were spotted on the path between Blanton-Nason-Brewer Hall and Missouri Hall. I was easily able to walk up to both animals and take a picture of them. I believe this was possible due to adaptations by both animals and a change in how they process humans within their landscapes of fear. Due to generations of both animals (most likely) living on campus surrounded by non-hostile humans, their landscape of fear changed from avoiding humans to living together in a "if you do not bother me, I will not bother you" environment. This increasingly-safe environment will let both animals create longer and more fit offspring as they do not need to allocate resources to defense or creating many offspring.
Link to sources: extension2.missouri.edu/g9412
nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/eastern-gra...