Human-Caused Wildfires Contributed to Megafauna Extinction 13,000 Years Ago in Southern California

Large mammals like mammoths and saber-toothed cats disappeared from the fossil record in Southern California 13,000 years ago.
Increased drought and warming led to more frequent wildfires, which contributed to ecosystem collapse.
Humans played a significant role through activities like hunting and increasing fuel loads.
The extinction coincided with transition from wet forests to dry chaparral vegetation.
Study highlights vulnerabilities of ecosystems to climate change and need for ecological management.