Journal of Wildlife Management最新文献

{"title":"This is fine: Mule deer and elk do not substantially change their behavior in response to active wildfires","authors":"Jacob W. Dittel,&nbsp;Darren A. Clark","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70234","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70234","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Wildfires are a major disturbance on the landscape and are increasing in frequency, severity, and size, often reaching megafire status (&gt;100 km² in burned area). Active wildfire can pose an immediate risk of death, alter vegetation and available forage resources, and ultimately affect animal behavior, but the immediate effects of wildfires on ungulate behavior are not well known. Wildfire season typically occurs during late summer, immediately before or during authorized hunting seasons for ungulates in western North America. Changes in ungulate behavior and distribution in response to wildfire could influence the availability of animals for harvest during subsequent hunting seasons. During an outbreak of 7 wildfires in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon, USA, in 2024, we analyzed the home range and movement patterns of 35 mule deer (<i>Odocoileus hemionus</i>) and 24 elk (<i>Cervus canadensis</i>) fitted with global positioning system (GPS) collars before, during, and immediately after wildfires and compared them to mule deer and elk that did not experience wildfire over the same time span. Neither species substantially changed their behavior or home range during active wildfires. Mule deer maintained high site fidelity during the wildfire but used their home range more uniformly and had higher daily displacement than deer unaffected by wildfire. Elk affected by wildfire did not change their daily movement patterns but adjusted their home ranges to avoid the wildfire perimeter. With a better understanding of how both species initially react to wildfires, land managers may be able to improve post-wildfire habitat by ensuring areas of refugia from human disturbance (e.g., seasonal road closures) following wildfire. Wildlife managers should be prepared for reduced hunting access in areas closed to public access following wildfire, which may reduce harvest rates of ungulates. Alternatively, if public access is not restricted in post-wildfire landscapes, wildlife managers should assess the potential effects of reduced vegetative cover (i.e., hiding cover) on harvest rates in post-wildfire areas to ensure harvest is sustainable.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70234","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148532579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cougar density on the Oregon Coast: Using dead recovery modeling in an open population","authors":"Jason A. Kirchner,&nbsp;Joel S. Ruprecht,&nbsp;Jennifer R. Adams,&nbsp;Lisette P. Waits,&nbsp;Gregory C. Reed","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70243","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70243","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Population density estimates are crucial for state wildlife managers to effectively conserve and regulate game species. The primary objective of this study was to determine cougar (<i>Puma concolor</i>) density in a 2,778-km² area in the Alsea Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) in western Oregon, USA. We deployed global positioning system (GPS) collars on 23 cougars (11 male, 12 female) between 2017 and 2021. Between 2019 and 2021, volunteer handlers obtained 84 tissue samples via biopsy darts, which were successfully genotyped. We also genotyped 112 tissue samples from hunter harvest and administrative removals, which served as dead recoveries in the open-population spatial capture–recapture–recovery model (OPSC2R). Using OPSC2R, we found that the mean density of cougars (aged ≥ 6 months) was 3.34/100 km² in 2019, 3.49/100 km² in 2020, and 3.04/100 km² in 2021. We observed the highest abundance in the study area in 2020, at 96 (95% CI = 83–107), and the lowest in 2021, at 84 (95% CI = 71–93). Survival rate for females (0.81; 95% CI = 0.69–0.88) was higher than that for males (0.71; 95% CI = 0.56–0.82). The anthropogenic mortality rate was 3 times greater than natural mortality for males and females. Our results demonstrate that integrating DNA collected via bio-darting, mandatory hunter-harvest check-ins, and GPS collar data into the OPSC2R is a reliable method for estimating cougar densities in densely forested coastal systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70243","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148532683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disrupting the herd: Recreational boating alters group dispersion within beluga whale herds","authors":"Camille Kowalski,&nbsp;Angélique Dupuch,&nbsp;Jean-François Sénécal,&nbsp;Jérôme Dupras,&nbsp;Clément Chion","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70239","url":null,"abstract":"<p>There is limited knowledge about the presence and potential impacts of recreational boats in marine mammal habitats. While numerous studies have examined marine mammal responses to commercial vessels, icebreakers, or whale-watching boats, the specific influence of private recreational boats remains understudied. This knowledge gap is particularly notable for the endangered St. Lawrence population of beluga whales (<i>Delphinapterus leucas</i>). In this study, we conducted land-based observations of recreational boats and beluga whales along the Saguenay Fjord in Anse de Saint-Etienne, Quebec, Canada, to investigate whether the number of belugas observed at the surface and herd configuration are influenced by the presence of recreational boats. We also examined the temporal and environmental factors influencing recreational boat presence. Our results indicate that recreational boat presence is associated with several temporal and environmental variables but not with beluga presence. The number of belugas observed at the surface did not systematically vary with the presence of recreational boats. However, the number of recreational boats was associated with an increased likelihood of observing changes in distances between groups (i.e., dispersion) within beluga herds. For each additional recreational boat present, the odds of a change in herd dispersion increased by 18%, rising from a predicted probability of 31% with no boats to 92% with 20 boats present. Such disruption, potentially driven by both the physical presence and acoustic disturbance of boats, may reduce communication efficiency among belugas and lead to the interruption or alteration of ongoing behaviors. These findings highlight the need to consider recreational boating activities in conservation strategies for the St. Lawrence population of belugas, particularly when managing human use of critical habitats during sensitive periods.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70239","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148533632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wildlife and brucellosis: Integrating conservation efforts with zoonotic disease management in Haixi Prefecture","authors":"HaoNing Wang,&nbsp;XinYa Jiang,&nbsp;GuanYing Ni,&nbsp;FuYun Chen,&nbsp;RenNa Wu,&nbsp;ShiFeng Sui,&nbsp;Xi Chen,&nbsp;XiaoDi Wang,&nbsp;ShaoPeng Yu,&nbsp;XiaoDong Wu,&nbsp;XiaoLong Wang","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70224","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70224","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by <i>Brucella</i> bacteria, poses significant public health risks and economic burdens, especially in ecosystems where livestock and wildlife interact. This study employs a spatial epidemiological approach to investigate the relationship between brucellosis occurrence in humans and livestock and wild ungulate habitats in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China. We identified brucellosis hotspots and analyzed their overlap with the distributions of 6 wild ungulate species using maximum entropy (MaxEnt) models, which revealed a strong spatial association between high-risk brucellosis areas and habitats of wild ungulates (area under the curve = 0.853–0.935 across low versus high altitude regions). High-risk areas for brucellosis were primarily concentrated in the eastern part of Tianjun County, the northern and central regions of Delingha City, and the western part of Wulan County, coinciding with high relative suitability for wild ungulates. We also identified distinct environmental factors such as precipitation in January (31.9%), diurnal temperature range (28.8%), and elevation (27.7%) as key predictors of the spatial distribution of brucellosis spillover events in low-altitude areas, whereas precipitation in October (49.4%) and land use type (33.0%) dominated in high-altitude zones. However, our analysis does not include direct surveillance or pathogen shedding data from wild ungulates. Consequently, our inference is limited to spatial co-occurrence and interface-related risk rather than demonstrated reservoir status or distribution of brucellosis events. These findings highlight the need for a more integrated approach to disease management and provide a practical framework for applying the One Health approach to policymaking, helping to balance wildlife conservation, livestock management, and public health in high-altitude ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148533484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A comparison of monitoring methods for inferring demographics of a pond-breeding amphibian population over 14 years","authors":"Patrick D. Moldowan,&nbsp;Doug P. Armstrong,&nbsp;Glenn J. Tattersall,&nbsp;Njal Rollinson","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70225","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70225","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Long-term monitoring for conservation typically requires unbiased estimates or indices of abundance, thereby allowing inference of population trends. Biased estimates can arise when individuals vary in capture probability, especially when overall capture probability is low. We used 3 methods to compare estimates and indexes of the abundance and sex ratio of spotted salamanders (<i>Ambystoma maculatum</i>) breeding in a 4-ha lake over 14 years to counts from a drift fence around the perimeter of the lake. The 3 sampling methods were 1) deployment of aquatic funnel traps around the lake and marking all individuals captured; 2) counting egg masses on the lake; and 3) surveying a coverboard array around the perimeter. To estimate male and female abundance and survival from the aquatic trapping data, we fitted a state-space formulation of the Jolly-Seber model with data augmentation to the encounter histories. We compared model formulations with and without individual heterogeneity in capture probability. Annual breeding turnout at the drift fence varied from 4,476 to 5,282 individuals for the 3 years surveyed. Abundance estimates from aquatic trapping data were substantially underestimated (lower by 67–75%) relative to drift fence counts when individual heterogeneity in capture probability was not addressed, whereas including individual heterogeneity resulted in sex-specific abundance estimates that were consistent with drift fence surveys. Raw sex ratios from aquatic trapping were male-biased (ranging from 0.67 to 0.81 proportion male, or 2.0:1 to 4.2:1 as a male:female ratio), whereas counts from the drift fence survey and estimates from the Jolly-Seber model with individual heterogeneity indicated female-biased sex ratios (ranging from 0.35 to 0.49 proportion male, or a ratio of 0.54:1 to 0.95:1). Egg mass counts were weakly correlated with abundance estimates, and cover board surveys detected less than 1% of the population. Our study underscores the utility of drift fence surveys as a reference for estimating the abundance of breeding individuals and the importance of considering individual heterogeneity in capture probability when estimating abundance of pond-breeding amphibians from capture data with imperfect detection. Our study also cautions that potential indices of abundance, such as egg-mass counts and coverboard counts, should be validated against reliable abundance estimates.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70225","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148522945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A meta-analysis of bobcat survival across the United States","authors":"Katherine M. Buckman,&nbsp;Ellen M. Audia,&nbsp;Brent S. Pease,&nbsp;Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau,&nbsp;Clayton K. Nielsen","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70228","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70228","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Bobcats (<i>Lynx rufus</i>) are an abundant and widely studied carnivore of ecological and management importance; however, factors like spatiotemporal variation in survival rates make it difficult to identify primary drivers of survival among studies. We used meta-analysis techniques to synthesize bobcat survival rates across their geographic range and elucidate factors driving variation among estimates. We performed a literature search for annual bobcat survival rates that were estimated using radio-collar data and obtained 19 of them across 16 states in the United States from 1983–2019. Using a mixed-effects model where the effect size was a study's reported survival rate, we evaluated the effects of year, sample size, study length, and analysis type in a meta-regression framework to examine whether these covariates could explain heterogeneity among survival rates. Additionally, we tested for potential spatial effects on survival rates (i.e., latitude, longitude, region, mean annual harvest, and harvest status), which could be driven by factors such as harvest interest, hunter effort, and pelt prices. Mean annual bobcat survival across studies was 0.75 (95% CI = 0.69–0.80). Study year explained 26.4% of heterogeneity (<i>P</i> = 0.031) and indicated that survival rates increased from 1983–2019. Additionally, sample size explained 32.5% of heterogeneity (<i>P</i> = 0.024) and indicated that survival rates increased with increasing sample sizes. Increasing survival rates through time may be attributed to conservation practices, improved monitoring of radio-collared animals, or a combination of biological and methodological changes. More than half of the between-study heterogeneity was explained by the population's exploitation level (<i>R</i>² = 61.7%, <i>P</i> = 0.003) and suggested that nuance in site-level harvest restrictions (e.g., permitted vs. restricted areas for harvest) influenced survival rates. We recommend evaluation of bobcat harvest policies and consistent inclusion of explicit details regarding harvest regulations (e.g., bag limits, number of tags issued, season length, proportion of land where harvest is permitted) to help clarify the link between harvest and survival in future studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148532866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Little penguins select more isolated nest boxes for breeding, but lay date influences breeding success","authors":"Georgia S. M. Gwatkin,&nbsp;Rachel P. Hickcox,&nbsp;Chris N. Niebuhr,&nbsp;Alexandra J. Strang,&nbsp;Sarah P. Flanagan,&nbsp;Michelle A. LaRue","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70230","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70230","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Little penguins (<i>Eudyptula minor</i>; known as kororā in te reo Māori, the Indigenous language of Aotearoa New Zealand) depend on terrestrial environments for nesting, breeding, and molting, spending approximately 20% of their lives on land. Therefore, little penguins may select breeding habitats that could improve breeding success or survival. However, selection and its consequences differ across colonies because of varying threats and habitat contexts, requiring examination at the colony scale. We investigated the habitat and nest box characteristics influencing little penguin breeding ecology during the 2022 and 2023 breeding seasons at the Pōhatu/Flea Bay colony on Banks Peninsula, New Zealand. Using weekly monitoring data from 194 nest boxes, we applied generalized linear models and occupancy models to assess how these characteristics influenced breeding nest box selection, hatching success, and fledging success. Additionally, we explored the influence of breeding timing and hard tick (<i>Ixodes eudyptidis</i>) abundance in the hatching and fledging success models. Little penguins selected more isolated nest boxes for breeding, with &gt;75% breeding probability at nest boxes &gt;2 m from a neighbor. Older nest boxes were selected slightly preferentially for breeding, potentially increasing little penguins' exposure to ticks as these boxes had higher tick presence. Breeding success was primarily influenced by the timing of egg laying, where hatching success declined with later lay dates in the 2022 and 2023 breeding seasons. Fledging success decreased by approximately 50% across the lay period in 2022 but remained high (&gt;75%) across similar lay dates in 2023. Our results suggest that nest box characteristics may be related to little penguin breeding nest box selection, whereas hatching and fledging success may be more influenced by timing of breeding and factors not included in our models. We recommend that nest boxes be placed at least 2 m from neighboring boxes within the breeding colony and that older boxes should be preserved where possible. Integrating continued monitoring with wider ongoing conservation efforts in an adaptive management framework is crucial to refining nest box placement and enhancing breeding success.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70230","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148533095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Behavioral responses of black bears to human presence and infrastructure in Yosemite National Park","authors":"Jennifer R. Green,&nbsp;Caitlin Lee-Roney,&nbsp;Kathleen Patrick,&nbsp;Rachel Mazur,&nbsp;Robert Lester,&nbsp;Erin Degutis,&nbsp;Ryan Leahy,&nbsp;Tal Avgar,&nbsp;Naomi B. Schwartz,&nbsp;Kaitlyn M. Gaynor","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70229","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70229","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Human disturbance is a pervasive force shaping wildlife movement and behavior across spatial and temporal scales. Even in protected areas, recreation-related human presence and infrastructure can impose distinct and overlapping effects that are important to disentangle for managing human–wildlife interactions. California's Yosemite National Park has experienced a long history of human–black bear (<i>Ursus americanus</i>) interactions, particularly where high-quality habitat overlaps with recreation. A 3-month park closure at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 provided a rare opportunity to investigate bear responses to infrastructure with and without human presence. Using global positioning system (GPS) collar data from 30 black bears (2014–2022), we evaluated behavioral responses across multiple scales, including home range size, habitat selection, behavioral state, and diel activity, during periods of normal visitation and closure. Under normal visitation, development strongly influenced all bear behaviors and was associated with larger home ranges, higher movement probabilities, and more nocturnal activity. During the closure, bears exhibited shifts in their fine-scale behaviors while broad-scale space use remained unchanged. Bears increased selection for development within their home ranges, became more diurnal, and moved more, with the strongest behavioral shifts occurring in the most developed areas. Our findings indicate that bears maintain use of resource-rich areas near development while modifying their fine-scale behaviors to avoid direct human encounters. By assessing how human presence and infrastructure shape bear behavior at multiple scales, this study provides guidance for managing human activities and bear behavior to support human–bear coexistence.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70229","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148533631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of carcass storage condition on searcher efficiency trials for conservation detection dogs","authors":"Anna Ciecka,&nbsp;Sally Yannuzzi,&nbsp;Laura Martinez Steele,&nbsp;Daniel Riser-Espinoza","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70237","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70237","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Conservation detection dogs are frequently deployed at renewable energy facilities to assist with bird and bat fatality monitoring because they can achieve higher searcher efficiencies than human surveyors. When calculating fatality estimates, the number of carcasses found is adjusted by several factors, including searcher efficiency, which makes carcass odor an important consideration when designing searcher efficiency trials for detection dogs who rely primarily on olfaction rather than vision to locate carcasses. We investigated the influence of storage condition on carcass odor by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to examine the volatile organic compound profiles from 15 eastern red bat (<i>Lasiurus borealis</i>) carcasses from 4 storage conditions: not stored, bagged-cooled, frozen-thawed, and dehydrated. Additionally, we tested the detectability of 3 of these carcass storage conditions (not stored, bagged-cooled, and frozen-thawed) through searcher efficiency trials with 5 conservation detection dogs at wind energy facilities in Missouri, USA. Only 20% of the 44 detectable known compounds observed in the odor profiles were common across all 4 carcass storage conditions. Searcher efficiency by dog team ranged from 0.75 to 0.94 and was not statistically different across carcass storage conditions, which ranged from 0.83 for not stored carcasses to 0.88 for bagged-cooled carcasses. Our results provide evidence that any of the bat carcass storage conditions evaluated here are suitable for use in searcher efficiency trials when detection dogs initially train with dehydrated bat carcasses and are appropriately trained to generalize across dissimilar carcass odor profiles.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jwmg.70237","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148533634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The canine conundrum: Is a dog a help or hindrance in bear country?","authors":"Tom S. Smith,&nbsp;Stephen Herrero,&nbsp;Lana Ciarniello,&nbsp;Hank Hristienko,&nbsp;Erin Lewis,&nbsp;Fern Bendio,&nbsp;Linda Wiggins","doi":"10.1002/jwmg.70236","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.70236","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Many have recognized the potential dangers and benefits of bringing domestic dogs into bear habitat. To explore this issue, we analyzed 326 human–bear conflicts that involved domestic dogs (i.e., not dogs trained to aversively condition or haze bears) and North American bear species (black bear [<i>Ursus americanus</i>], grizzly bear [<i>U. arctos</i>], polar bear [<i>U. maritimus</i>]). Of these conflicts, dogs initiated the incident more than half the time (54%). One hundred and seventy people were injured, including 5 fatalities (2% of all dog owners). However, more than 10 times as many dogs died as people (<i>n</i> = 56). Most dog–bear conflicts occurred in wilderness areas when owners were hiking (45.1%). However, nearly as many conflicts occurred in front-country locations (35.3%), underscoring the need for dog owners to be prepared for bear encounters in both areas. Off-leash dogs often flushed bears out of the brush (8.3% of cases), initiating conflict that endangered the dog, their owners, and bears. In such instances, owners suffered a 70% injury rate. One hundred and two people with no bear deterrent sprang to the aid of dogs in distress (<i>n</i> = 132 dogs), and many people (44%; 45 of 102 persons) incurred injuries ranging from slight to severe. Only 9.2% of incidents reported that the dog warned the owners of the presence of a bear, and dogs did not often come to aid of their owners when being attacked (35.9% of all cases). Carrying a bear deterrent decreases the odds of injury and increases one's safety in bear country. We also found that the larger the group of people, the less likely a human–bear–dog incident will occur; however, the presence of a dog more than doubled the odds of a bear conflict when compared to the same-sized groups without dogs. Incidents involving unleashed dogs outnumbered those involving leashed dogs nearly 6 to 1. While we did not know the ratio of leashed to unleashed dogs at large, we do know that only dogs off leash could bring bears back to their owners, an event that was reported in 27 cases (8.3%). Insights provided here are intended to help wildlife managers create effective guidelines regarding the presence of domestic dogs in bear habitat.</p>","PeriodicalId":17504,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Wildlife Management","volume":"90 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148533920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}