Dr Blake Morton
@drblakemorton.bsky.social
University lecturer in animal & human psychology. Inspired by biodiversity & conservation. Head of the #BritishCarnivoreProject 🦊🦡🧠🧩🌍 Check out my group's latest research: https://www.blakemorton.co.uk/
Pinned
Dr Blake Morton | Animal Behaviourist
www.blakemorton.co.uk
Interested in the #biodiversity crisis and how it links to #animal and #human #psychology? Check out my research group's website for updates on our latest work! 🦊🦡🧠🧩🌍 Link here: www.blakemorton.co.uk
#BritishCarnivoreProject @uniofhull.bsky.social
#BritishCarnivoreProject @uniofhull.bsky.social
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
🐺 Advantageous snow conditions – in terms of snow depth and density – are among the most important features of the winter landscape for two apex predators, regardless of hunting strategy.
Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/pXSMNRK
Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/pXSMNRK
November 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
🐺 Advantageous snow conditions – in terms of snow depth and density – are among the most important features of the winter landscape for two apex predators, regardless of hunting strategy.
Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/pXSMNRK
Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/pXSMNRK
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
“Although Britain is believed to have one of the highest levels of membership of environmental organisations in the world,
this apparently pro-nature indicator was found to have little impact on closeness to nature”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
this apparently pro-nature indicator was found to have little impact on closeness to nature”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Britain one of least ‘nature-connected’ nations in world – with Nepal the most
Others languishing near bottom of 61-country study include Canada, Germany, Israel, Japan and Spain
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 11:11 AM
“Although Britain is believed to have one of the highest levels of membership of environmental organisations in the world,
this apparently pro-nature indicator was found to have little impact on closeness to nature”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
this apparently pro-nature indicator was found to have little impact on closeness to nature”
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
Are humans really the only rational animals? Our NEW PAPER 🎉 out in @science.org suggests otherwise! In a large collaboration led with my joint first author @hanna-schleihauf.bsky.social, we show that “Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs” 🧵
Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs
The selective revision of beliefs in light of new evidence has been considered one of the hallmarks of human-level rationality. However, tests of this ability in other species are lacking. We examined...
www.science.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Are humans really the only rational animals? Our NEW PAPER 🎉 out in @science.org suggests otherwise! In a large collaboration led with my joint first author @hanna-schleihauf.bsky.social, we show that “Chimpanzees rationally revise their beliefs” 🧵
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
Biodiversity loss and wildlife declines can seem abstract and difficult to contextualise for general audiences. Studies like this can help bring a more relatable perspective to such issues. 🧪🌍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The global biomass of mammals since 1850 - Nature Communications
Here, the authors estimate mammalian biomass from the 1850’s to today, tracking an increase of over five-fold in human and domesticated mammal biomass and a two-fold decrease in wild mammal biomass. R...
www.nature.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Biodiversity loss and wildlife declines can seem abstract and difficult to contextualise for general audiences. Studies like this can help bring a more relatable perspective to such issues. 🧪🌍
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
Red Wolf advocate and conservation photographer Eric Trefney tells a moving story of that first time he heard a lone #wolf howl. Eric has seen Red Wolf puppies born, the tragic deaths of wolves, new packs being formed, and amazing, yet brief, one-on-one encounters.
Listen, See, Feel, Connect: What Wolves Have Taught Me About the Link Between Humans and Nature
What does nature sound like to you: Is it the haunting bugle of a bull elk? The mysterious call of the loon? Perhaps the low hoot of an owl? Or maybe the ancien
buff.ly
October 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Red Wolf advocate and conservation photographer Eric Trefney tells a moving story of that first time he heard a lone #wolf howl. Eric has seen Red Wolf puppies born, the tragic deaths of wolves, new packs being formed, and amazing, yet brief, one-on-one encounters.
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
the IUCN have passed the Longevity Conservation motion put forward to them by @kellerfish.bsky.social and @pili-scotland.bsky.social and based on the paper we wrote on the value of older individuals in animal societies.
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
Global body adopts policy to protect Earth’s old, wise and large animals | Charles Darwin University
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recognised Charles Darwin University-led research into the Earth’s oldest animals with the adoption of the ‘Longevity Conservation’ global...
www.cdu.edu.au
October 24, 2025 at 8:28 AM
the IUCN have passed the Longevity Conservation motion put forward to them by @kellerfish.bsky.social and @pili-scotland.bsky.social and based on the paper we wrote on the value of older individuals in animal societies.
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
www.cdu.edu.au/news/global-...
Looking for something #spooky to read this October? 🎃 🍂
Check out Story 3 of our free online #nature booklet for young readers, entitled The Mysterious Bin Phantom! 👻 🗑️ 🦊 #BritishCarnivoreProject
Link here: www.blakemorton.co.uk/download/129...
Check out Story 3 of our free online #nature booklet for young readers, entitled The Mysterious Bin Phantom! 👻 🗑️ 🦊 #BritishCarnivoreProject
Link here: www.blakemorton.co.uk/download/129...
www.blakemorton.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Looking for something #spooky to read this October? 🎃 🍂
Check out Story 3 of our free online #nature booklet for young readers, entitled The Mysterious Bin Phantom! 👻 🗑️ 🦊 #BritishCarnivoreProject
Link here: www.blakemorton.co.uk/download/129...
Check out Story 3 of our free online #nature booklet for young readers, entitled The Mysterious Bin Phantom! 👻 🗑️ 🦊 #BritishCarnivoreProject
Link here: www.blakemorton.co.uk/download/129...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
🚨 Hiring a field technician! Help us live-trap (for GPS collars) and camera-trap mesocarnivores in Wichita, KS! See details here: docs.google.com/document/d/1... 🧪🦊🐱
Tech position - urban mesocarnivores
Field technician: Utah State University, Department of Wildland Resources Project: Mesocarnivore urban ecology. Description: We are seeking a field technician to capture and fit GPS collars on coyotes...
docs.google.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
🚨 Hiring a field technician! Help us live-trap (for GPS collars) and camera-trap mesocarnivores in Wichita, KS! See details here: docs.google.com/document/d/1... 🧪🦊🐱
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
October 18 is World Okapi Day!
Did you know okapis form mental maps of their habitat?
#AnimalCognitionFunFacts #WorldOkapiDay #Okapi
Did you know okapis form mental maps of their habitat?
#AnimalCognitionFunFacts #WorldOkapiDay #Okapi
October 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
October 18 is World Okapi Day!
Did you know okapis form mental maps of their habitat?
#AnimalCognitionFunFacts #WorldOkapiDay #Okapi
Did you know okapis form mental maps of their habitat?
#AnimalCognitionFunFacts #WorldOkapiDay #Okapi
Excited to share our latest preprint from the #BritishCarnivoreProject, showing #exploratory diversity and behavioural #innovation in #wild red #foxes may emerge after long-term #urban exposure across many decades. 🦊🧠🧩🌃
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Time in the city: Exploration and problem-solving behaviours reveal long-term urban adaptation in wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes)
Urbanisation is one of the most important forms of human-driven landscape change, creating novel situations in which some species thrive. Animals' willingness to touch, explore, and solve novel challe...
www.biorxiv.org
September 29, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Excited to share our latest preprint from the #BritishCarnivoreProject, showing #exploratory diversity and behavioural #innovation in #wild red #foxes may emerge after long-term #urban exposure across many decades. 🦊🧠🧩🌃
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Excited to share our latest paper from our on-going #BritishCarnivoreProject, showing that encounters with wild red #foxes could be an important gateway to broader #nature connectedness in people, particularly in cities. 🦊🍃🏙️ Link here: doi.org/10.1080/1087...
Experiencing the wild: red fox encounters are related to stronger nature connectedness, not anxiety, in people
Frequent and positive wildlife experiences can strengthen people’s physical and mental connection with nature, potentially improving public health and pro-environmental behaviors. Red foxes are the...
doi.org
September 23, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Excited to share our latest paper from our on-going #BritishCarnivoreProject, showing that encounters with wild red #foxes could be an important gateway to broader #nature connectedness in people, particularly in cities. 🦊🍃🏙️ Link here: doi.org/10.1080/1087...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
New York’s updated wildlife plan leaves wolves out, despite evidence they’re here. In 2021, a wolf was killed near Cooperstown, yet NY refuses to collect DNA or include wolves in its plan. Wolves deserve protection, not denial.
cbs6albany.com/news/local/s...
cbs6albany.com/news/local/s...
Should wolves be part of NY's conservation priorities?
Should New York include wolves in their wildlife conservation plan? The DEC is finalizing its 10-year Wildlife Action Plan and it doesn't include wolves.
cbs6albany.com
September 22, 2025 at 5:24 PM
New York’s updated wildlife plan leaves wolves out, despite evidence they’re here. In 2021, a wolf was killed near Cooperstown, yet NY refuses to collect DNA or include wolves in its plan. Wolves deserve protection, not denial.
cbs6albany.com/news/local/s...
cbs6albany.com/news/local/s...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
Should We Sleep Outside? Turns Out There Are Some Benefits
Should We Sleep Outside? Turns Out There Are Some Benefits
“Greenspace exposure” is associated with some decent health outcomes.
www.iflscience.com
September 21, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Should We Sleep Outside? Turns Out There Are Some Benefits
Thrilled to share this article in #TheGeographer covering our research at the #BritishCarnivoreProject, reaching >20,000 global readership plus a link to our free #nature booklet for young readers, here: t.co/RUV3M832Hf 🦊🧠🌃
September 9, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Thrilled to share this article in #TheGeographer covering our research at the #BritishCarnivoreProject, reaching >20,000 global readership plus a link to our free #nature booklet for young readers, here: t.co/RUV3M832Hf 🦊🧠🌃
Thrilled our article made the front cover of the #educational magazine Biological Sciences Review by Hachette Learning 🦊🧠🧩🌃 #BritishCarnivoreProject @dylantj.bsky.social
magazines.hachettelearning.com/magazine/bio...
magazines.hachettelearning.com/magazine/bio...
Biological Sciences Review 2025-09-01 - Hodder Education Magazines
magazines.hachettelearning.com
September 4, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Thrilled our article made the front cover of the #educational magazine Biological Sciences Review by Hachette Learning 🦊🧠🧩🌃 #BritishCarnivoreProject @dylantj.bsky.social
magazines.hachettelearning.com/magazine/bio...
magazines.hachettelearning.com/magazine/bio...
Our free #nature booklet for young readers, Urban Tails, has six stories - each covering a different season of the year. Be sure to read this month's story for August! Over 1,500 downloads and counting! 🦊🏙️🍃🌳 #BritishCarnivoreProject
Link here: www.blakemorton.co.uk/download/129...
Link here: www.blakemorton.co.uk/download/129...
www.blakemorton.co.uk
August 26, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Our free #nature booklet for young readers, Urban Tails, has six stories - each covering a different season of the year. Be sure to read this month's story for August! Over 1,500 downloads and counting! 🦊🏙️🍃🌳 #BritishCarnivoreProject
Link here: www.blakemorton.co.uk/download/129...
Link here: www.blakemorton.co.uk/download/129...
Very pleased to share our latest #publication showing that differences an #innovation may shape finer-scale niche differences between two generalist species: wild #raccoons and #opossums 🦝🧠🧩 @kristyadaway.bsky.social
Link here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Link here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Wild racoons are more innovative but not bolder than another generalist, the Virginia opossum, on a pull-string task
Humans are altering natural environments at unprecedented rates. Ecological generalism is one of the strongest predictors of survival in light of thes…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 20, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Very pleased to share our latest #publication showing that differences an #innovation may shape finer-scale niche differences between two generalist species: wild #raccoons and #opossums 🦝🧠🧩 @kristyadaway.bsky.social
Link here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Link here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
Meet Romeo and Juliet, two coyotes who have made Central
Park their home for over a year. While sightings are rare, their presence is a reminder that wildlife finds a way, even in the busiest of cities.
Read more about their story: 🔗 bit.ly/3V73suz
Park their home for over a year. While sightings are rare, their presence is a reminder that wildlife finds a way, even in the busiest of cities.
Read more about their story: 🔗 bit.ly/3V73suz
An Evening With the Central Park Coyotes
www.nytimes.com
August 19, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Meet Romeo and Juliet, two coyotes who have made Central
Park their home for over a year. While sightings are rare, their presence is a reminder that wildlife finds a way, even in the busiest of cities.
Read more about their story: 🔗 bit.ly/3V73suz
Park their home for over a year. While sightings are rare, their presence is a reminder that wildlife finds a way, even in the busiest of cities.
Read more about their story: 🔗 bit.ly/3V73suz
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
Can’t make it to Edinburgh for #ASABWinter2025 🏴 ? Did you know you can also register to attend online for free as well? 💻
Or even better, consider attending remotely with a group of colleagues by setting up a “hublet”!
More info here:
www.asab.org/conference-h...
Or even better, consider attending remotely with a group of colleagues by setting up a “hublet”!
More info here:
www.asab.org/conference-h...
August 18, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Can’t make it to Edinburgh for #ASABWinter2025 🏴 ? Did you know you can also register to attend online for free as well? 💻
Or even better, consider attending remotely with a group of colleagues by setting up a “hublet”!
More info here:
www.asab.org/conference-h...
Or even better, consider attending remotely with a group of colleagues by setting up a “hublet”!
More info here:
www.asab.org/conference-h...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
Are you a leader interested in advancing environmental psychology in the UK? Are you a member of @bpsenvpsych.bsky.social?
Applications are now open for the next Chair or Co-Chair BPS Environmental Psychology Section
Further details here: www.bps.org.uk/news/volunte...
Applications are now open for the next Chair or Co-Chair BPS Environmental Psychology Section
Further details here: www.bps.org.uk/news/volunte...
Volunteer role: Chair for Environmental Psychology Section (Role ID: 213) | BPS
The deadline for applications is 12 noon on 16 September 2025.
www.bps.org.uk
August 18, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Are you a leader interested in advancing environmental psychology in the UK? Are you a member of @bpsenvpsych.bsky.social?
Applications are now open for the next Chair or Co-Chair BPS Environmental Psychology Section
Further details here: www.bps.org.uk/news/volunte...
Applications are now open for the next Chair or Co-Chair BPS Environmental Psychology Section
Further details here: www.bps.org.uk/news/volunte...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
📅 It's #NationalRelaxationDay - a day we can definitely get on board with.
🧘♀️ Research shows, time spent in woodlands can lower blood pressure, boost mood and help clear a busy mind.
😌 Take a stroll, find a quiet spot under a tree, stop and simply be
Find a wood near you 👇
buff.ly/doHstLz
🧘♀️ Research shows, time spent in woodlands can lower blood pressure, boost mood and help clear a busy mind.
😌 Take a stroll, find a quiet spot under a tree, stop and simply be
Find a wood near you 👇
buff.ly/doHstLz
August 15, 2025 at 8:02 AM
📅 It's #NationalRelaxationDay - a day we can definitely get on board with.
🧘♀️ Research shows, time spent in woodlands can lower blood pressure, boost mood and help clear a busy mind.
😌 Take a stroll, find a quiet spot under a tree, stop and simply be
Find a wood near you 👇
buff.ly/doHstLz
🧘♀️ Research shows, time spent in woodlands can lower blood pressure, boost mood and help clear a busy mind.
😌 Take a stroll, find a quiet spot under a tree, stop and simply be
Find a wood near you 👇
buff.ly/doHstLz
Excellent PhD opportunity with @drjuliekyoung.bsky.social and colleagues in Kansas, working on #behavioural #ecology of red #foxes, #coyotes, and #bobcats! 🦊🐺 Info here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
PhD position - urban mesocarnivores
Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistantship: Utah State University, Department of Wildland Resources Project: Mesocarnivore urban ecology. Description: Dr. Jon Beckmann and Matt Peek at the Kansas Departmen...
docs.google.com
August 14, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Excellent PhD opportunity with @drjuliekyoung.bsky.social and colleagues in Kansas, working on #behavioural #ecology of red #foxes, #coyotes, and #bobcats! 🦊🐺 Info here: docs.google.com/document/d/1...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
I'm pleased to share this new article by @svenkasser.bsky.social, Laura Fortunato @anthrolog.bsky.social, Marc Feldman and myself.
The article extends gene-culture coevolution to recognize evolutionary effects of culture arising through drift and migration.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The article extends gene-culture coevolution to recognize evolutionary effects of culture arising through drift and migration.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
August 13, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I'm pleased to share this new article by @svenkasser.bsky.social, Laura Fortunato @anthrolog.bsky.social, Marc Feldman and myself.
The article extends gene-culture coevolution to recognize evolutionary effects of culture arising through drift and migration.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
The article extends gene-culture coevolution to recognize evolutionary effects of culture arising through drift and migration.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
Ever wondered whether other animals are curious?
Check out our new paper:
Do goldfish like to be informed?
Now out in Proceedings of the @royalsociety.org!
Co-lead by @monteirotiago.bsky.social during my PhD
@biology.ox.ac.uk with Mark Walton and Alex Kacelnik
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Check out our new paper:
Do goldfish like to be informed?
Now out in Proceedings of the @royalsociety.org!
Co-lead by @monteirotiago.bsky.social during my PhD
@biology.ox.ac.uk with Mark Walton and Alex Kacelnik
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
May 22, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Ever wondered whether other animals are curious?
Check out our new paper:
Do goldfish like to be informed?
Now out in Proceedings of the @royalsociety.org!
Co-lead by @monteirotiago.bsky.social during my PhD
@biology.ox.ac.uk with Mark Walton and Alex Kacelnik
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Check out our new paper:
Do goldfish like to be informed?
Now out in Proceedings of the @royalsociety.org!
Co-lead by @monteirotiago.bsky.social during my PhD
@biology.ox.ac.uk with Mark Walton and Alex Kacelnik
doi.org/10.1098/rspb...
Reposted by Dr Blake Morton
New PhD position in Environmental Psychology @envpsyvienna.bsky.social
Are you interested in research addressing one or more of the current ecological crises (e.g., climate, pollution, biodiversity) from a broadly social cognition angle? Apply!
Details here: jobs.univie.ac.at/job/PhD-Stud...
Are you interested in research addressing one or more of the current ecological crises (e.g., climate, pollution, biodiversity) from a broadly social cognition angle? Apply!
Details here: jobs.univie.ac.at/job/PhD-Stud...
PhD Student in Environmental Psychology (Quantitative Methods)
PhD Student in Environmental Psychology (Quantitative Methods)
jobs.univie.ac.at
August 12, 2025 at 3:55 PM
New PhD position in Environmental Psychology @envpsyvienna.bsky.social
Are you interested in research addressing one or more of the current ecological crises (e.g., climate, pollution, biodiversity) from a broadly social cognition angle? Apply!
Details here: jobs.univie.ac.at/job/PhD-Stud...
Are you interested in research addressing one or more of the current ecological crises (e.g., climate, pollution, biodiversity) from a broadly social cognition angle? Apply!
Details here: jobs.univie.ac.at/job/PhD-Stud...