Scientists have observed that hunters have caused the cubs of Scandinavian brown bears to spend more time with their mothers. This change has only started to occur in the species within the last few decades.
Hunters are causing bears to change their behaviors due to their impact.
Scandinavian Brown Bears
A new study published in Nature Communications shows that Scandinavian brown bears are adapting their behavior to hunters. This has changed how much time bear cubs are spending with their mothers. Before recent observations by researchers, brown bear cubs spent a year and a half with their mothers.
Researchers say that it was rare for cubs to spend two and a half years with their mothers. Cubs are now spending that extra year with their mothers, according to researchers. The study notes that this change has occurred during the last 15 to 20 years.
There has been a 30 percent increase in the number of female bears that are caring for their cubs for an extra year. This increase has occurred since 2005, according to Fanie Pelletier, an author on the study.
Female bears are four times more likely to be shot if they don't have a cub with them, according to Jon Swenson, an author on the study. Countries that allow bear hunting ban people from targeting family groups.
Hunting has driven female bears to spend more time with their cubs. In the years between 2005 to 2015, the number of female bears keeping their cubs for an extra year increased from 7 percent to 36 percent. Hunting has increased in Sweden during this period. From 2010 to 2014, around 300 bears were shot each year.
Disadvantages And Advantages
This new strategy for female bears allows them to have an extra year of protection from hunters. This lets them live safer lives, but it also has some negative consequences for the bear population as a whole.
Female bears who keep their cubs for an extra year are going to be reproducing less often. With less reproduction occurring, the numbers of cubs produced in their lifetimes reduces. In turn, this reduces the number of brown bears.
Results of the study show that this change in how female bears are raising their cubs has led to an increased lifespan for the female bear.
Scandinavian brown bears are one of the most tracked animal populations in the world. They've been tracked closely since 1984. There have been more than 500 bears tracked from birth to death in Sweden. Scandinavian brown bears are related to their American counterpart the grizzly bear.
