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Post by malikc6 on Sept 14, 2020 3:33:32 GMT -5
This isn't meant to be answered by a single answer. Let's have some fun and speculate. Some strange disease that targets only humans spreads like wildfire worldwide and obliterates the majority of humanity with only the richest and smartest of them managing to move to Mars. Those left back on Earth die leaving the Earth 100% human free. This even took place rather quickly (2 years) to happen.
Despite our extinction, we have quite a legacy left on this planet. Numerous buildings/houses, power lines, nuclear technology, pollution, etc. As time moves forward, what do you suspect the future would be for not only bears, but for other species as well? Take in zoo animals, farm animals, pets that managed to survive, etc.
Let's speculate shall we?
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Post by tom on Sept 14, 2020 8:16:49 GMT -5
IMO providing all wild animals which survived without issue would likely continue on without issue. Zoo animals, pets or any domesticated animals would eventually parish IMO. Unlike their wild cousins they have no survival instincts when it comes to finding their own food. Even if they were able to escape their enclosures, basically any animal raised from birth in captivity would be in real jeopardy. The possibility that animals that were caught in the wild and had been surviving on their own up till captivity may have a shot at surviving providing they can revert to their instincts.
Of course there's always the possibility that even domesticated animals could learn to hunt and forage for food to survive but I think that would be an exception rather than the rule.
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Post by brobear on Sept 14, 2020 8:22:25 GMT -5
Providing that the human extinction ( is some way ) is not too sudden and some kind-hearted souls release animals from cages, fences, and buildings, some 'kept' animals would survive; most would not. But ( IM ) the natural world would be 100% better off. In the northern hemisphere, the bears would be at the top of the food chain among land-based animals. *malikc6 - cool how your avatar matches you "post number bear"  |
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Post by malikc6 on Sept 14, 2020 8:42:23 GMT -5
Providing that the human extinction ( is some way ) is not too sudden and some kind-hearted souls release animals from cages, fences, and buildings, some 'kept' animals would survive; most would not. But ( IM ) the natural world would be 100% better off. In the northern hemisphere, the bears would be at the top of the food chain among land-based animals. *malikc6 - cool how your avatar matches you "post number bear" Ha you caught on to that. Yeah everytime it changes, I change the avatar to fit the name. |
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Post by OldGreenGrolar on Sept 14, 2020 8:44:00 GMT -5
If humans went extinct the American black bear population would quickly increase as would the brown bears.
As Brobear pointed out, should some kind hearted soul release the animals from their cages, these animals too would survive.
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Post by malikc6 on Sept 14, 2020 8:53:22 GMT -5
IMO providing all wild animals which survived without issue would likely continue on without issue. Zoo animals, pets or any domesticated animals would eventually parish IMO. Unlike their wild cousins they have no survival instincts when it comes to finding their own food. Even if they were able to escape their enclosures, basically any animal raised from birth in captivity would be in real jeopardy. The possibility that animals that were caught in the wild and had been surviving on their own up till captivity may have a shot at surviving providing they can revert to their instincts. Of course there's always the possibility that even domesticated animals could learn to hunt and forage for food to survive but I think that would be an exception rather than the rule. Yeah the exceptional domesticated animals would survive, with many dying. There's videos talking about this said thread (albeit I prefer this one to be more in detail) saying how many cows pigs and chickens would likely starve or succumb to a disease and lead to a mass death called "The Great Rot". We have billions of chickens, cows and pigs. Numerous wildlife would come to feast on the dead. I believe that the most adaptable domesticated pets would have a shot at 'reverting' to their instincts. Dogs like 'Tea cup' dogs and other dogs with some weird genetic disorder that requires a lot of human care would go extinct. It's hard to theorize what dog breeds would survive as they greatly vary. I think simply the dog breeds with the most intelligence and perhaps even aggression would have the highest chances for survival. Cats I'm sure would be fine with their main issue is being out competed by larger animals. I think that exceptional zoo animals would lead to cities holding them becoming their new home. Lions and crocodiles roaming California for example. Domesticated or not, I'm sure many of those creatures are going to try to look for food. It also depends on the animal as some are better at adapting to new circumstances than others. I don't think a lion for example would have an issue adapting to life in an abandoned city. Many animals would break into stores and restaurants in an attempt to get food. I totally see a bear doing this in a funny matter personally haha. In this scenario, the entire world might as well be the wild and differences will remain for potentially thousands of years. Despite humans being gone, how would animals utilize what humans left behind? |
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Post by tom on Sept 14, 2020 9:01:45 GMT -5
You could likely have scenarios where dogs would become feral and learn to run in packs like wolves and learn to hunt like wolves.
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Post by malikc6 on Sept 14, 2020 9:04:47 GMT -5
One thing to take into account is that these animals are going to go through potentially Hell for a bit. Without humans to regulate our machines, certain roads, tunnels, and bridges are going to be flooded potentially drowning certain animals. Fires happen everyday but we have firefighters to remove them. Without them, fires would eventually happen with nothing to stop it other than time, and by then many animals could potentially be in a precarious situation. Especially with the smoke inhalation. Mass destruction from fires may prove to be a serious problem. If a fire happened, it would wipe out many cities with only the elements being able to stop it.
Another are nuclear power plants and all things relating to those. Potential explosions or leaks could happen leading to further pollution and contamination. Take in Chernobyl for example. Despite that event happening nearly 40 years ago, we still have to come up with ways to contain that radiation. Some horses and wolves have adapted to some of the radiation after generations of being there, and their lifespans aren't very high compared to animals that don't live there.
These are just a handful of struggles these creatures would have to go up against. I didn't even bring up disease yet, as I feel that truly was worsened by humans.
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Post by malikc6 on Sept 14, 2020 9:05:55 GMT -5
You could likely have scenarios where dogs would become feral and learn to run in packs like wolves and learn to hunt like wolves. There's a few cases of dogs doing this actually, albeit not learning how to hunt like wolves. In hurricane Katrina, two pitbulls out of desperation for food were seen trying to kill a cow. The dogs were sadly shot. |
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Post by brobear on Sept 14, 2020 9:14:20 GMT -5
Actually, cows, pigs, goats, and horses would likely fare ok. Mustangs are feral horses. The range cattle ( later rounded up and called Texas Longhorns ) were feral cattle. The razor-back hogs of the Southeast are feral hogs. Even cats would fare ok.
Dogs; most of them would perish ( IMO ) but there would also be many exceptions. Btw, Dingo's and Carolina dogs are feral.
Chickens and domestic turkeys would be easy prey... as would domesticated sheep... ( IMO ).
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Post by malikc6 on Sept 14, 2020 9:17:31 GMT -5
Actually, cows, pigs, goats, and horses would likely fare ok. Mustangs are feral horses. The range cattle ( later rounded up and called Texas Longhorns ) were feral cattle. The razor-back hogs of the Southeast are feral hogs. Even cats would fare ok. Dogs; most of them would perish ( IMO ) but there would also be many exceptions. Btw, Dingo's and Carolina dogs are feral. Chickens and domestic turkeys would be easy prey... as would domesticated sheep... ( IMO ). I see many of those animals listed falling prey to many animals. But predators aside, I think their main issue would be finding enough food to survive once their food source runs out. |
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Post by tom on Sept 14, 2020 10:36:26 GMT -5
This scenario kind of reminds me of the Will Smith movie "I am Legend". No humans (wiped out by virus) except will Smith of course.
Remember the hunting scene? Wild animals running throughout the city.
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Post by King Kodiak on Sept 14, 2020 13:59:36 GMT -5
Well, i think this is very easy to answer. Bears have been around for millions of years before humans have, and they did perfectly good. Its a known fact that humans in general have been a plague for bears. How many species and subspecies of bears have gone extinct because of humans? The cave bear, the Atlas bear, The California grizzly bear, maybe even the short faced bear. The interior grizzly bear was close to extinction, the polar bear is endangered because of global warming and humans.
In a world without humans, the bears would take all their habitat back. They would be much better overall.
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Post by tom on Sept 14, 2020 15:14:22 GMT -5
Absolutely, The Grizzly Bear possibly more than all bear species and possibly more than any other mammal require large tracts of wilderness to prosper. Man has taken that away from them and only recently for example in Yellowstone Park has their habitat conditions improved some. Simply put Grizzlies as would most Bear species would prosper in a world without humans.
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Post by malikc6 on Sept 14, 2020 15:15:54 GMT -5
Once again how would animals fare against pollution?
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Post by tom on Sept 14, 2020 15:18:14 GMT -5
Air pollution, water pollution.... without humans the air pollution would gradually improve as would water pollution. it may take some time but things would definitely improve. I think they would fare well IMO.
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Post by malikc6 on Sept 14, 2020 15:19:40 GMT -5
Air pollution, water pollution.... without humans the air pollution would gradually improve as would water pollution. it may take some time but things would definitely improve. I think they would fare well IMO. What about the radiation in some areas? |
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Post by tom on Sept 14, 2020 15:27:38 GMT -5
Radiation? Can you be more specific?
Possibly are you referring to nuclear power plants?
That is a good question for which I don't have an answer.
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Post by malikc6 on Sept 14, 2020 15:28:24 GMT -5
Radiation? Can you be more specic? Possibly are you referring to nuclear power plants? That is a good question for which I don't have an answer. Power plants and radiation pollution. The power plants would eventually fail and release radiation. |
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