BC bears viewed during ecotour visits are not likely to get into conflict with humans later.
That comes from a new study published in the Canadian Journal of Zoology.
The study focused on whether grizzly bear viewing at ecotourism spots increased the chances of the bears being involved in conflicts with humans.
They say that concern is because of the bears developing a higher tolerance of people.
“Although wildlife can avoid people in space or time as a risk reduction strategy, thereby also likely minimizing conflict, some populations or individuals that comprise them can tolerate benign human activity like wildlife viewing,” said the study.
“Some species or reproductive classes within species might in fact use humans as protective associates. Any associated tolerance of humans among these individuals might thus predispose them to engage in risky behaviour and subsequently encounter conflict with humans.”
They say in Nuxalk territory, located on the central coast of BC, grizzly bear ecotourism takes place along the Atnarko River in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, with conflicts happening in the lower Bella Coola Valley.
For research, the team collected hair snag samples of bears, samples from captured or euthanized bears, and screened genetic matches between bears that encountered conflict in the Bella Coola Valley and grizzlies detected by hair snags.
While studying the hair samples, researchers identified 118 individual grizzly bears along the Atnarko river.
“Of these 118 individuals, 34 (28%; 24 females, 10 males) were detected in the ecotour zone at least once,” said the study.
“Thirteen ecotour bears (11%; 10 females, 3 males) were detected in the snags upstream of the ecotour sites, and another 84 (71%; 49 females, 35 males) exclusively upstream.”
The study found that of the grizzlies determined to be ecotour bears, only one out of the 34 had encountered a conflict, suggesting bears viewed during ecotours are not at a higher risk of coming into conflict with humans at a later time.
To read the full study, click here.
