Potential for increase in sightings/ change in behaviour?
Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2020 3:32 pm
So with much of the country closing down for Covid-19, It's got me wondering if there's potential for increase in sightings/ change of behaviour in the Hairy Fella's.
Here in Victoria, Hunting and Fishing are now banned and I know a number of states have closed their NP's and forest area's. Two points on this.
1. Aside from the obvious reason of preventing groups of people congregating and spreading the virus, I have to wonder if there's another, more.....cryptological based reason for closing the parks and preventing hunting at this time?
2. As evidenced by other parts of the world, animals are taking full advantage of the lack of humans to explore new areas and habitats. Now whilst I don't expect to hear a report of a Yowie sighting on Flinders Street in the city, I would be curious if they did venture a little beyond their usual impenetrable terrain.
We know from tracking the geographical pattern of sightings over the last century that urbanisation has greatly reduced and changed distribution of sightings (Classic example is the development of Ormeau and the GC Hinterland during the 90's/early 2000's).
But now with the absence of hunter and hikers, are they possibly likely to explore more? Obviously this would be hard to verify because of said restrictions, but I'd be really curious to hear from any of our members who have property backing onto bushland with regular "visitors" if you notice a change in behaviour or strange happenings in the areas.
Thoughts?
Here in Victoria, Hunting and Fishing are now banned and I know a number of states have closed their NP's and forest area's. Two points on this.
1. Aside from the obvious reason of preventing groups of people congregating and spreading the virus, I have to wonder if there's another, more.....cryptological based reason for closing the parks and preventing hunting at this time?
2. As evidenced by other parts of the world, animals are taking full advantage of the lack of humans to explore new areas and habitats. Now whilst I don't expect to hear a report of a Yowie sighting on Flinders Street in the city, I would be curious if they did venture a little beyond their usual impenetrable terrain.
We know from tracking the geographical pattern of sightings over the last century that urbanisation has greatly reduced and changed distribution of sightings (Classic example is the development of Ormeau and the GC Hinterland during the 90's/early 2000's).
But now with the absence of hunter and hikers, are they possibly likely to explore more? Obviously this would be hard to verify because of said restrictions, but I'd be really curious to hear from any of our members who have property backing onto bushland with regular "visitors" if you notice a change in behaviour or strange happenings in the areas.
Thoughts?