Wildlife Response to Anthropogenic Food

Anthropogenic food in or near natural areas may alter wildlife communities by attracting species of omnivorous animals that opportunistically prey on songbird nests. To test this hypothesis, we treated riparian forest patches with anthropogenic food to simulate food discarded by visitors. We compared omnivorous nest predator activity between treatment and control areas with the use of scent and camera stations. We also calculated nest success for two common songbird species in both treatment and control forest patches, the yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia L.) and the American robin (Turdus migratorius L.). Results from the scent and camera stations indicated elevated activity of raccoons (Procyon lotor [Linnaeus]) and black-billed magpies (Pica pica L.) in treatment sites compared to control sites. Daily nest survival for American robins and yellow warblers, however, did not differ between treatment and control areas.