Abstract 177 – Influence of human disturbance on black bear (Ursus americanus) habitat selection

Erin Henderson, Ramona Maraj, Emily Gavey, Nolan Waters, Michelle Hoang,
Mary McConnell, Fletcher Elliott, Rachel Stapleton

Black bears (Ursus americanus) were extirpated from their historical home range in
southeastern Alberta, but have recently begun repopulating the area. Within the last 10 years,
black bears returned to the Beaver Hills Biosphere (BHB) in east-central Alberta, one of the last
remaining vestiges of the globally critically endangered aspen parkland ecosystem. The BHB is a
highly fragmented landscape comprised of agricultural, residential, and protected lands, with a
major east-west highway bisecting the Biosphere. Protected areas within the BHB have seen
higher visitation rates and bear sightings in recent years. High densities of humans living,
working, travelling, and recreating in the BHB alongside bears could lead to increased instances
of human-bear conflict as the bear population grows.
We assessed black bears spatial and temporal response to human disturbance in the BHB using
location data obtained from global positioning system collars deployed on 11 black bears from
2020-2023. We used a resource selection function to compare bear habitat use to
nonanthropogenic and anthropogenic variables, including land-use type (residential,
agricultural, protected), and intensity of road and trail use. We modelled diurnal and seasonal
(hyperphagia vs. hypophagia) changes in habitat selection in relation to changes in human
recreation use of protected areas. We also compared habitat selection within protected areas
to that outside of the protected areas. Identifying bears response to human disturbance will
allow partner agencies to develop and implement human-bear conflict management plans
targeted to areas of high human and bear use.