More and more countries are rolling out quarantine guidelines for their people in an attempt to control COVID-19. Those rules force citizens to stay indoors as much as possible, temporarily forgetting what it’s like to be outside.

As people get confined in their homes, nature seems to be enjoying the break.

People in Japan, for example, are seeing more deer roaming around. Deer, particularly the Sika deer, live there as part of the local attraction.

Back then, tourists would buy crackers that were sold at the park for the deers. As the number of people visiting the park has decreased, the deer probably didn’t have any choice but to wander and look for anything they could eat.

Some of the deer were out on the roads. Other were able to find grass and plants they could eat.

In Italy, wild boars are seen walking around the streets.

Although boars are known to descend upon some European cities, it’s still surprising to find the wild animals on the quiet and deserted streets. Some people even spotted horses and sheep.

In Lopburi, Thailand, the local monkeys are starting to brawl over food previous visitors left. In San Felipe, Panama, raccoons were spotted hanging out on the beach. In Oakland California, turkeys are making their presence felt.

The quarantines can also affect wildlife in surprising ways.

Urban animals have adapted to humans. In the same way, they’ll probably find ways to adjust to the quarantine and less people outdoors.

An ecologist at the University of Massachusetts Amherst named Paige Warren shared:

“I’ll be interested in whether creatures like coyotes and foxes start acting more bold in American cities.”

She also said that it’s possible that with fewer people in the streets, some species might go away. These species include those who live off of whatever humans give them or whatever they could find decent in the trash.

A person who directs the Urban Wildlife Institute in Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo is also interested in the way the quarantine would affect animals.

Seth Magle said:

“Normally, animals live in the parts of our cities that we don’t use. It makes them an unseen presence, kind of like ghosts.”

He also said that life tends to find a way, just like they said in Jurassic Park. This is why they try hard to find ways to set up their equipment and track how the pandemic is shifting animal behavior.

“If anything, these times may serve as a reminder that animals have always lived in our area. We may not think of our cities as a part of nature, but they are.”- Magle said.

With all virus and its threats keeping people inside their homes, it’s safe to say that nature is slowly healing. Animals are slowing making their way into urban setting which, under normal circumstances, they usually avoid. Seeing them on the streets and people’s yard might be surprising, but it certainly gives a ray of hope for everyone.

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: The Guardian, Powerful Mind