Artificial light is reshaping caracal behavior, limiting where the South African wild cat can hunt

Artificial light is one of the most ingrained features of modern life. For humans, light after dark offers convenience and a sense of safety. For wildlife, it's a growing environmental disturbance. "When humans introduce artificial light at night, they are fundamentally altering an aspect of the environment that many species depend on for processes like foraging, navigation, and risk-avoidance," says Christopher Hickling, a Ph.D. student in natural resources science at the University of Rhode Island. "Species also depend on light to maintain their natural rhythms and cycles."