Yet living in an area inhabited by these large predators might actually make you safer. “But this study shows that carnivores can actually reduce conflicts with their prey species, often through complex ecological pathways.” The researchers analyzed data from 503 camera traps and 59 GPS collars tracking pumas’ presence in Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula between 2020 and 2025. PantheraThe analysis showed that a high presence of pumas led to a 76 percent reduction in deer-vehicle collisions compared with areas where pumas’ presence was lower. Rather it resulted from the mountain lions instilling fear in the deer, which shaped how the prey animals moved in the landscape.