Human impacts on bear feeding habits and habitat selection in the Poľana Mountains, Slovakia

摘要: Due to altered agricultural and hunting policies, anthropogenic food recently became more accessible for bears in Slovakia. Supplementary feeding of ungulates cereal/maize crops fields provide attractive bears. Although the influence supplementary on bear behaviour has been partially explained, importance as additional remains poorly understood. The objective this study was evaluate if human-derived foods are an important component diet how maize habitat selection We further evaluated seasonal variation quantified energetic contribution various items. expected changes brown habits favour food, a preference over other habitats. investigated by analysis 243 scats. To explore selection, we used K-select analysis. Three prevalent categories contributed energy intake throughout year: wild mammals, hard mast cultivated plants. Contrary expectations that plants add most (estimated dietary content (EDEC)), natural were important. It seems winter activity related prolific beechnuts mild winters, rather than feeding. Additionally, revealed affect population area considerably increased recent decades—probably due profuse resources long-term conservation—no relevant jeopardising human safety have observed.