The researchers watched 2669 grizzly bears in British Columbia in the period from 1979 to 2019. It turned out that those who lived near large and small cities individuals often died young.
The bear population has increased across North America, every year is establishing increasingly close and regular contact with people. According to a new study conducted at the University of Alberta Canada, under the leadership of Clayton lamb, this trend puts the bears far greater risk than men.
Lamb and his colleagues followed 2669 grizzly bears throughout British Columbia in the period from 1979 to 2019 and found that the death rate of bears living near people, was 7.5 times higher than those who lived in the wild.
According to scientists, only one of the 30 grizzly bears who lived in regions with frequent contact with people, lived to 14 years – average age for bears. In wild areas with sparse human contact, 26 of the 30 bears lived to 14 years, the report said the Inverse.
The main threats for the bears came directly from the people, especially those who preyed on animals either for entertainment or as a preventative security measures and protection of livestock.
The bears threatened human infrastructure: railroad tracks and busy streets. Only in British Columbia occurs 10 000 auto collisions with wild animals a year.
According to lamb and his team, the bears have already begun to adapt to these threats, actinica night, presumably to avoid encounters with people during the day. After the age of three bears in areas with significant human presence was annually increased their nocturnal activity by 3%.
Ranchers and farmers can use electric fencing to protect crops and livestock, while the road barriers can be expanded to keep the bears away from the tracks.
Some areas of British Columbia have been able to reduce the number of auto collisions with bears to 80% by constructing passages for wild animals – green equivalent of the pedestrian bridge.
“We can either make changes to facilitate the coexistence of humans and animals. If we decide not to adapt to the neighborhood with wild animals, we will probably continue to deal with them and thereby to threaten them with extermination,” added lamb.
In June, the national Park of Canada noticed the rare white grizzly. Scientists have not heard of such animals for several decades.
Previously, scientists have found that the proximity of people to these animals negatively affects their behavior.
