While wildlife crossing structures improve connectivity across highways, little is known about how they influence wildlife behavior, particularly prey-following predator behavior. We analyzed camera trap data from multiple areas in California (two southern, three northern), focusing on mesopredators: bobcats, gray foxes, and coyotes, and their common prey. Predator detections were categorized into time bins based on how many minutes they were observed after their prey species (0-30, 0-60....180-210). Using a negative binomial generalized linear mixed model, we tested for evidence of predators following prey at individual and grouped study locations, against non-prey reference species. Overall, there was no significant evidence of prey-following behavior (p > 0.05) across all study areas. However, species-specific patterns did emerge. For example, along State Route 62/Banning Pass, coyote detections significantly decreased over time following desert cottontails (p < 0.001). For bobcats and gray fox detections, there was little indication of prey-following behavior. These findings suggest that this behavior is not widespread, but may occur with some species under specific structural or environmental conditions. It seems possible that wildlife crossing structures are not significant places for predator-prey interactions.

Addison Arsenith is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the University of California, Davis, majoring in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology and minoring in GIS. She currently interns at UC Davis’ Road Ecology Center under Dr. Fraser Shilling. Her research interests include wildlife connectivity, predator-prey interactions, behavioral ecology, and ecosystem dynamics. She is particularly interested in carnivorous mammals such as canids and felids, as well as small mammals. After graduation, Addison hopes to pursue a master’s degree in wildlife biology.