Scientists were surprised to discover that large predators like bears are apparently spooked out and suffer heart attacks when flying drones approach.
This new study details the concerns about the use of drones around wildlife areas that directly affects wild animals such as bears and other creatures as well since these autonomous robotic devices can cause panic and even fear, making their hearts race.
According to co-author of the study, Mark Ditmer from the University of Minnesota, the spikes found in the heart rates of the bears were beyond what was expected, where one bear had a 400 percent increase in heart rate, ranging from 41 beats every minute to 162 beats per minute. The results were quite shocking, he adds.
The team of scientists attached GPS collars and cardiac biologgers to four wild bears that were living in northwestern Minnesota. During the study, the collars automatically send emails to the researchers about the location of the bears where the biologgers track their every heart beat.
During this setup, researchers deployed 18 unmanned aerial vehicles or drones for brief flights in the area of the bears' locations. The flights only lasted for five minutes which are also similar to drones used to track wildlife movements or migrations.
Scientists noted that the bears looked calm during the study but their biologgers revealed otherwise, as their heartbeats dramatically changed and increased when the bears notice the drones in their area.
Ditmer says that without the biologgers' data, they would have assumed and concluded that bears only occasionally respond the these UAVs.
On the other hand, bears in this study also recovered quickly. This new study suggest that this evidence that drones freak out and stress out animals means that more research about the use of these devices and their impacts on wildlife should be assessed more.
Drone technology continues to develop today where they are used to monitor and discourage poachers and track wildlife for ecotourism. However, scientists also suggest that there are a few rules to follow when it comes to its usage.
Ditmer adds that UAvs are extremely crucial for scientific research and conservation efforts, however, it is also important to know which animals are tolerant of drones and what distance is safe when it comes to the presence of UAVs around wildlife.
This study is published in the journal, Current Biology.