Free-ranging dogs match a human’s preference in a foraging task

Social learning is a mechanism used by many species to effciently gain information about their environment.Although many animals live in an environment where members of other species are present,little is known about interspecifc social learning.Domesticated and urbanized species provide the opportunity to investigate whether nonhuman animals can learn from heterospecifcs such as humans,who are integral parts of their social landscape.Although domestic dogs Canis familiaris have been intensively researched for their ability to learn from humans,most studies have focused on dogs living as pets.However,free-ranging dogs represent the majority of the world’s dog population,they live alongside humans,scavenge on human refuse,and are subject to natural and sexual selection.Thus,free-ranging dogs with extensive exposure to humans and their artifacts provide the opportunity to investigate interspecifc social learning in a naturalistic setting,where learning from humans might be a beneft for them.Here we tested individual free-ranging dogs in a between-subject design:Dogs in the control group could spontaneously choose between two novel and differently patterned food-delivering boxes.In the experimental group,instead,dogs could frst observe an unfamiliar human approaching and eating from 1 of the 2 boxes.We provide the frst evidence that free-ranging dogs match the choice of an unfamiliar human.These results show that at least simple forms of interspecifc social learning might be involved in dogs’success in living alongside humans in a complex urbanized environment.

Urbanization does not affect red foxes’interest in anthropogenic food,but increases their initial cautiousness

Human presence and activities have profoundly altered animals’habitats,exposing them to greater risks but also providing new opportunities and resources.The animals’capacity to effectively navigate and strike a balance between risks and benefts is crucial for their survival in the Anthropocene era.Red foxes(Vulpes vulpes),adept urban dwellers,exhibit behavioral plasticity in human-altered environments.We investigated variations in detection frequency on trail cameras and the behavioral responses(explorative,bold,and fearful)of wild red foxes living along an urbanization gradient when exposed to a metal bin initially presented clean and then flled with anthropogenic food.All fox populations displayed an increased interest and similar explorative behavioral responses toward the anthropogenic food source,irrespective of the urbanization gradient.Despite no impact on explorative behaviors,foxes in more urbanized areas initially showed heightened fear toward the empty bin,indicating increased apprehension toward novel objects.However,this fear diminished over time,and in the presence of food,urban foxes displayed slightly reduced fear compared with their less urban counterparts.Our results highlight foxes’potential for adaptability to human landscapes,additionally underscoring the nuanced interplay of fear and explorative behavioral response of populations living along the urbanization gradient.