International research has shown that wolves, coyotes, and foxes move along stable routes, resembling ‘invisible highways,’ rather than wandering randomly, as was previously believed.
An international team of scientists conducted a large-scale study, analyzing the movements of over 1,200 predators worldwide. The results were unexpected and contradict the established idea that animals such as wolves, lions, or leopards move randomly throughout their territory. The research was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Over ten years, researchers tracked the movements of 34 predator species across six continents using GPS collars. They discovered a clear pattern: many predators, especially Canidae (wolves, coyotes, and foxes), use the same routes, essentially moving along ‘invisible highways.’ They regularly return to previously traveled paths, as if they have their own road system in the wild.
In contrast, feline predators—such as lions, tigers, and lynxes—demonstrated a completely different strategy. Their routes were far less predictable and rarely repeated, indicating a more flexible and spontaneous approach to moving across their territory.
This discovery changes the scientific understanding of animal spatial behavior. Until now, the dominant theory has been ‘random walk,’ according to which predators move chaotically across the landscape, guided only by prey and instinct. However, it is now clear that at least some species adhere to a stable and predictable pattern of movement.
Researchers believe this knowledge could play a key role in conservation efforts. Understanding exactly how predators move will help to more accurately plan reserve boundaries, create ecological corridors, and reduce the risk of conflict between wildlife and humans.
Moreover, the study’s results offer the opportunity to better predict migration routes, hunting behavior, and the spread of diseases among wild animals.
As the scientists emphasize, predator behavior is not chaos, but a system that we are only now beginning to truly understand
