A recent study revealed that grizzly bears in the Canadian Rockies have adjusted their movements due to human development, such as coal mines, highways, reservoirs, and towns. Researchers examined GPS data from over 100 grizzly bears spanning two decades and observed significant changes in their mobility patterns across an 85,000-square-kilometer area in southern British Columbia and Alberta.
Lead author Eric Palm, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Montana, noted a decline in connectivity for grizzly bears in the region. He emphasized that any new human infrastructure, like coal mines or towns, could further impede the bears’ ability to move freely, impacting their access to food sources and potentially leading to population-level consequences.
The lifting of a coal mining moratorium in the eastern Rockies earlier this year raised concerns about additional threats to bear habitats. Palm highlighted proposed expansions of existing coal mines in British Columbia and Alberta, warning that such developments could disrupt the bears’ natural habitats and hinder their movement between different areas.
The study predicted that continued development would fragment bear habitats, limiting their ability to roam freely. Grizzly bears tend to stay within mountainous regions but are increasingly constrained by human activities concentrated in valleys where food is abundant. When food is scarce, bears are compelled to venture closer to roads in search of sustenance, posing risks for both bears and humans.
Wildlife ecologist Tal Avgar, who contributed to the study, emphasized the importance of minimizing human-bear interactions to ensure the bears’ long-term survival. Human-related mortalities remain a significant threat to grizzly bear populations, with most deaths in Alberta attributed to human causes.
While wildlife crossings like overpasses and underpasses have been implemented to promote habitat connectivity and reduce animal-vehicle collisions, their effectiveness varies. Avgar acknowledged the limitations of such structures, particularly in areas where human settlements or mines obstruct natural bear movements.
Palm raised concerns about the potential genetic isolation of bear populations if habitat fragmentation continues unchecked. He emphasized the need for landscape-scale planning that considers the preservation of wildlife corridors to facilitate animal movements across diverse landscapes while accommodating responsible development practices.
