GPS smartphone data can help National Forests manage recreation while protecting wildlife habitat

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Mark Ditmer

Have you ever hiked outdoors and wondered if your behavior affects the wild animals that might be concealed in the forest around you? Until recently, it has been near-impossible to measure these complex interactions. But now, scientists have shown that anonymized data collected from smartphones – or “human mobility data” – is a promising way to monitor when and where people move across wild places. This can help land managers in their efforts to keep landscapes connected for both people and wildlife.

Recreation is a major draw to our national forests and grasslands which means that there is a need for information that can be used to prevent and predict human-wildlife conflicts. This new research does just that. The scientists combined cougar GPS collar data with human mobility data in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains to pinpoint where people and predators were most likely to cross paths — valuable knowledge for keeping both people and big cats safer. In Wyoming’s Teton Range, human mobility data revealed where people came close to or within bighorn sheep wintering zones, which can help managers fine-tune seasonal closures or redirect human activity to minimize animal stress during harsh winters. This type of data can also be used along major wildlife migration corridors to fine-tune conservation planning, among many other benefits.

“Human mobility data provides a new lens to see how wild animals respond to differing levels and types of human presence,” said Mark Ditmer, a research ecologist with the Rocky Mountain Research Station. “It gives land managers powerful new tools to protect animals and wild spaces while informing both recreation and wildlife management.”