[mlhpdx]

Domesticated? Human beings back then would have been a walking menagerie of pests, right? Seeds and plant matter, mice, mites, flees, pets, and yes if they managed to travel with livestock, them too.

All of which we know today are vectors for the spread of disease.

I have zero expertise to comment on what a primary contributor to population declines might’ve been for any given animal, I just find it fascinating (and baffling) that those who are experts seemingly ignore something that is undoubtedly a contributing factor.

As others point out this is of course understandable, because the story is less compelling. The image of humans with spears tracking down the last wild beast is one imaginations can’t resist. The image of slowly dying and decaying beasts, less so.

[throwuwu]

Might as well blame any other animal then