The rise of the mesopredator

Prugh and colleagues synthesized global evidence that the worldwide decline of apex predators has triggered widespread increases in mid-sized carnivores, with far-reaching ecological and economic consequences. The review documented dozens of mesopredator outbreaks, quantified their typical magnitude, and showed that released mesopredators often inflict heavier predation on shared prey than the apex predators they replaced. For felids, the framework cuts both ways: large cats such as lions and pumas can suppress mesopredators, while smaller and feral cats can themselves act as released mesopredators harming birds and small mammals. The paper crystallized mesopredator release as a general phenomenon and a conservation priority, motivating apex-predator restoration to restrain runaway intermediate predators.