Heat drives nocturnal shift in deer at Tuscany's Parco della Maremma

A study published in *Integrative Zoology* examined the behavior of roe deer (caprioli) and red deer (daini) in eight protected areas of Tuscany, including the Parco della Maremma. Coordinated by zoologist Francesco Ferretti of the University of Siena and funded by the Parco regionale della Maremma, the Regione Toscana and the Pnrr National Biodiversity Future Center, researchers deployed camera traps for more than 12,400 monitoring days during the summer.

The data show that high summer temperatures cause roe deer to sharply reduce daytime activity and shift most movements to the night, increasing their risk of encountering wolves. Red deer also reduce daytime activity, but to a lesser extent. Ferretti noted that "in summer the high temperatures represent a crucial factor in modifying ungulate behavior," and warned that continued warming will amplify these changes, underscoring climate‑change impacts on Mediterranean ecosystems.