Resource selection by sympatric free-ranging dairy cattle and brown bears

• Published in: Wildlife Biology
• Main Authors: Steyaert, S.M.J.G., Stoen, O.G., Elfström, M., Karlsson, J., van Lammeren, R.J.A., Bokdam, J., Zedrosser, A.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: behavior; conservation; ecology; estimating population-size; habitat selection; large carnivores; livestock conflicts; predation; sweden; wolves; Ursus arctos
• Online Access: https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/resource-selection-by-sympatric-free-ranging-dairy-cattle-and-bro; https://doi.org/10.2981/11-004

Livestock depredation is an important factor that contributes to low public acceptance of large carnivores, and is often used as an incentive to reduce large carnivore populations. In central Sweden, brown bears (Ursus arctos) coexist with a traditional cattle husbandry system that allows daytime free-ranging of dairy cattle. Despite a growing brown bear population, depredation on cattle remained stable during the last decade, and among the lowest rates reported worldwide. Nevertheless, major stakeholders argue for a substantial reduction in brown bear numbers, among other reasons, to safeguard this traditional husbandry system. Based on satellite tracking data, we assessed and correlated the resource selection of nine brown bears that were sympatric with six daytime free-ranging cattle herds during the free-ranging season (June-August) in 2008. We found a significant and negative relationship between resource selection of brown bears and free ranging cattle during the study period, mainly because of inverse relationships between the species towards vegetation density and human-related infrastructure, such as forest roads, buildings, and settlements. We predict that the probability of an encounter between these species, given that there is no directed predation, is highest in dense vegetation patches close to these human habitation-related variables. Because of the low reported depredation rates and the apparent habitat segregation between the species, our results provide no support for the argument to reduce brown bear numbers to safeguard this traditional cattle herding system.