Scientists at the University of Washington placed GPS collars on dozens of bobcats and coyotes and tracked their movements and behaviors in Northeast and Central Washington. The animals moved from areas uninhabited by humans into rural communities to escape being killed by wolves and cougars with whom they compete for food. But the strategy ultimately proved lethal, as the bobcats and coyotes were three to four times more likely to be killed by people than by those apex predators. Laura Prugh is an associate professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Washington and the lead author of this study which was published last month in the journal, “Science.” She joins us to talk about the research findings and what they say about the so-called “human shield effect” on predator-prey relationships observed in Yellowstone and other national parks.