# Human Shield: a winning strategy in a human dominated landscape?

Valentina Ruco, Ricardo N. Simon, Nives Pagon, Mathieu Garel, Anne

Loison, Rok Černe, Francesca Marucco

► To cite this version:

Valentina Ruco, Ricardo N. Simon, Nives Pagon, Mathieu Garel, Anne Loison, et al.. Human Shield: a winning strategy in a human dominated landscape?. ISEC, Jul 2024, Swansea, United Kingdom. hal-05107265

HAL Id: hal-05107265

https://hal.science/hal-05107265v1

Submitted on 11 Jun 2025

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# Human Shield: a winning strategy in a human dominated landscape?

Ruco V¹., Simon R. N³, Pagon N⁴, Garel M³, Loison A², Černe R⁴, Marucco F.¹

¹. Department of Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin; ². Laboratoire d'Ecologie Alpine, Savoie Mont Blanc University; ³. Office français de la biodiversité; ⁴. Slovenia Forest Service

Corresponding author: valentina.ruco@unito.it

## BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

**"Landscape of fear"**: in human dominated landscapes animals face threats both from human activities and natural predators.

We tested whether roe deer approach humans to avoid predators (human shield hypothesis) in 3 study areas in the Alps.

> "What affects roe deer habitat selection under a landscape of fear?"

<figure><img src="image_1.png" /></figure>

## 3 Study areas
with different hunting pressure, wolf presence and urbanization index.

<figure><img src="image_2.png" /></figure>

## Data collection and Modelling framework

Resource selection functions using conditional regression models

### GPS data from 45 Roe deer

10 from Italy (2022 - 2023)
23 from France (2004 - 2021)
12 from Slovenia (2021 - 2023)

Sampling: 1 fix every 4-6 hours

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

## RESULTS

<figure><img src="image_4.png" /><figcaption>Figure 1: Estimates (β ± 95% S.E.) of fixed (a) and random effects (b) of variables included in the most parsimonious model for daytime. For distance covariates, negative β indicates selection for proximity</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>Figure 3: Estimates (β ± 95% S.E.) of fixed (a) and random effects (b) of variables included in the most parsimonious model for nighttime. For distance covariates, negative β indicates selection for proximity</figcaption></figure>

<caption>Figure 4: Functional response to light pollution (urbanization index) based on availability of distance to buildings.</caption>

Roe deer habitat selection was affected by cover type (e.g. forest), ruggedness and anthropogenic features, differing between day and night:

* During the day, roe deer proximity to buildings increases as hunting risk increases (human shield hypothesis).

* At night, roe deer select buildings only in areas away from highly urbanized regions and avoid them in locations with high levels of light pollution.

We observed significant variability among the three sites, with a stronger effect observed in Italy due to higher cumulative human disturbance and the presence of wolves.

Selection for risky places, hunting (fig. 2) and light pollution (fig. 4), varies as function of proximity to buildings: in particular, selection for hunting occurs at lower cases.

## Conclusion

Our study supports the human shield hypothesis for roe deer facing human hunting, with context-dependent variations across alpine landscapes of fear. We documented individual-level responses that varied among study sites, highlighting diverse scales of roe deer anti-predatory behavior influenced by natural and anthropogenic factors.