Reduced fear-related responses or “increased bolder behaviours” are one of the most prevalent behavioural modifications seen in urban wildlife. For example, a bolder behaviour would consist of physically interacting with something unfamiliar. These bolder behaviours are the result of increased exposure of wildlife to humans in developed areas and they could increase the risk of human-animal conflicts. Indeed, a bolder animal will be more likely to end up in close range with humans or pets, representing a risk of disease transmission, damages or attacks. For this study, we are only focusing on medium-sized carnivores, more commonly seen in the city centre. Indeed, in Finland, red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), European badgers (Meles meles), and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides) have been observed exploiting anthropogenic food sources and shelters, becoming veritable city dwellers. However, no studies have assessed variation in behaviours towards novelty in these urban species in Finland so far. Therefore, it is essential to conduct such studies to mitigate potential future human-wildlife conflicts, understand how animals adapt to urbanisation, and develop effective wildlife management strategies to help prevent biodiversity loss in urban areas.  We aim to evaluate adaptation in these urban mammals by examining whether their behaviours towards novelty change along an urban-rural gradient. We expect to see bolder behaviours from animals living closer to the urban core than their rural conspecifics. 

Behavioural experiments are conducted on free-living carnivores in private gardens and in forested areas, monitored by wildlife camera traps. We defined our urban-rural gradient with the “Refined degree of urbanization in Europe”. A first round of data collection has been conducted along an urban-rural gradient in different cities in South-West Finland (e.g. Turku, Kaarina, Uusikaupunki, Loimaa) between June-September 2024. In summer 2025, experiments were conducted in Turku, Helsinki, Tampere, Masku, Salo and Naantali. We will continue the experiments every summer until 2027 (included) to produce enough replicates for appropriate data analysis. The experiments consist of assessing animals’ behaviours towards two novel objects (a closed box and a box partly covered with aluminium foil) and two novel surfaces (aluminium foil and bubble wrap) (Fig. 1). Objects and surfaces are food-baited to lure and motivate free-living animals to approach our experimental sites and the novel objects/surfaces. Those novel objects and novels surfaces are designed to be unusual from the animal’s point of view, even in an anthropogenic environment. The novel objects and novel surfaces demand from the animal to physically interact with them if they want to obtain the food reward. Each object/surface are available to animals’ interactions for two weeks. 

In 2024, we conducted our experiments in 69 gardens/private forests, while in 2025 we added 42 new experimental sites, giving a total of 111 gardens/private forests investigated. Red foxes were observed in 51 gardens and were equally present in rural and urban areas. European badgers were observed in only 9 gardens, mostly in rural areas. Finally, raccoon dogs were observed in 14 gardens, with no observations in the most urbanised areas. From the preliminary analyses, it appears that behaviour is affected by the urban–rural gradient, but also varies greatly between individuals. We are going to continue our behavioural experiments from June to September in 2026 and 2027. If you wish to participate, please fill in the form below to provide the coordinates of your garden and/or private forest. We are interested in both urban and rural areas and are mainly operating in South Finland. 

No publication or manuscript in preparation for now.