Landscape of fear or landscape of food? Moose hunting triggers an antipredator response in brown bears

Abstract

Hunters can affect the behavior of wildlife by inducing a landscape of fear, selecting individuals with specific traits, or altering resource availability across the landscape. Most research investigating the influence of hunting on wildlife resource selection has focused on target species and less attention has been devoted to nontarget species, such as scavengers that can be both attracted or repelled by hunting activities. We used resource selection functions to identify areas where hunters were most likely to kill moose (Alces alces) in southcentral Sweden during the fall. Then, we used step-selection functions to determine whether female brown bears (Ursus arctos) selected or avoided these areas and specific resources during the moose hunting season. We found that, during both day and nighttime, female brown bears avoided areas where hunters were more likely to kill moose. We found evidence that resource selection by brown bears varied substantially during the fall and that some behavioral changes were consistent with disturbance associated with moose hunters.Brown bears were more likely to select concealed locations in young (i.e., regenerating) and coniferous forests and areas further away from roads during the moose hunting season. Our results suggest that brown bears react to both spatial and temporal variations in apparent risk during the fall: moose hunters create a landscape of fear and trigger an antipredator response in a large carnivore even if bears are not specifically targeted during the moose hunting season. Such antipredator responses might lead to indirect habitat loss and lower foraging efficiency and the resulting consequences should be considered when planning hunting seasons.

Behavioural responses of brown bears to roads and hunting disturbance

“…Brown et al. (2023) have shown previously that lone female brown bears in Sweden increase the selection for better concealment during the hunting season. This tactic would be consistent with the decreased movement rate that we observed in lone females and would suggest that antipredator responses in bears depend on their reproductive status.…”

“…Previous work has shown that brown bears respond to hourly variation in hunting risk by reducing foraging activities and movements during the morning hours when the risk of hunter‐caused mortality is highest (Hertel et al., 2016; Ordiz et al., 2012); however, Brown et al. (2023) have shown that female brown bears move faster when travelling through high‐risk areas to presumably reduce risk exposure. Therefore, moving faster to escape hunters may be an alternative antipredator tactic, especially considering that Leclerc et al.…”

“…Therefore, we expect a similar behavioural response to hunting in unprotected bears and family groups because they can also be tracked and chased by dogs, although they would not be shot. Previous work has shown that brown bears respond to hourly variation in hunting risk by reducing foraging activities and movements during the morning hours when the risk of huntercaused mortality is highest (Hertel et al, 2016;Ordiz et al, 2012); however, Brown et al (2023) have shown that female brown bears move faster when travelling through high-risk areas to presumably reduce risk exposure. Therefore, moving faster to escape hunters may be an alternative antipredator tactic, especially considering that Leclerc et al (2019) have shown that hunters in Sweden are more likely to shoot bears that move more slowly.…”

Living with Bears in Prahova Valley, Romania: An Integrative Analysis

“…Following these considerations, we observed that bears are constantly seeking food in an environment predominantly shaped by human presence. We can raise the question of whether this crowded environment is transforming into a landscape of food, as indicated by Brown et al [96]. In this context, as some interviewees pointed out, feeding bears could still be evidence of a coexistence strategy and an understanding of posthumanist ideals in a shared landscape.…”

“…Avoiding contact with humans is their natural reaction [98], stemming from the fear of encountering them. Perhaps that is why humans are considered predators [96], and bears live in a landscape of fear [100,101]. This environment is characteristic of Prahova Valley due to the presence of human settlements, means of transportation, and economic as well as touristic activities, especially during the warm season between May and September.…”