Revealing the effects of anthropogenic structures on the spatial distribution of migratory wildebeest

The increasing interaction between wildlife and humans, both within and outside protected areas, highlights the importance of understanding how migratory animals respond to anthropogenic disturbance. To effectively safeguard migratory populations, we must understand their habitat use, particularly in response to the expanding presence of human‐made structures in their environments. In this work, we employed a multiscale step selection model within a Bayesian framework to explore the impact of human‐made structures, specifically buildings identified from satellite imagery, on the movement patterns and habitat preferences of migratory wildebeest ( Connochaetes taurinus ) in the Serengeti. Our findings reveal that wildebeest tend to avoid areas near these structures, even in the core of the protected area where tourist infrastructure is the most prevalent. Although buildings do not entirely exclude wildebeest, they do reduce the amount of time wildebeest spend in their vicinity. Individuals weigh multiple trade‐offs in deciding whether to remain or move during migration, and if animals forego access to key resources in the areas around buildings, this could lead to reduced fitness and demographic consequences that may not be immediately apparent. We further find that increasing numbers of co‐located buildings have a diminishing rather than a compounding effect on the spatial distribution of wildebeest, meaning that clustering buildings away from key grazing areas could be a beneficial strategy. Synthesis and applications . In light of these findings, we recommend careful regulation and spatial planning of infrastructure development within ecosystems that consider the nuanced effects human‐made structures can have on the behaviour and habitat use of migratory animals.