Abstract 254 – Exploring Bear Attacks Through an Evolutionary Lens

Tom Smith, Thomas Sharp, Vincenzo Penteriani, Russ Van Horn

In this paper we explore both the ultimate and proximate causes responsible for the ways in
which the eight extant bear species respond in interactions with humans. A brief review of
these bears’ evolutionary histories is presented, with an emphasis on behavioral adaptations
resulting from environmental forces including competitors, predators, and habitat. We also
present each species’ relationship to humans with respect to distance-dependent responses
and predation. A better understanding of how bear behavior has been shaped over millennia
helps us to create more effective policies for bear management and safety.