Courtship of brown bears Ursus arctos in northern Spain: phenology, weather, habitat and durable mating areas

摘要: Abstract During 1988–2004 we made 297 non-systematic direct observations of free-ranging brown bears Ursus arctos in the Cantabrian Range Spain, one southernmost and most endangered populations Europe. Observations were distributed over whole calendar year, with records every month. We classified 23 as breeding behaviour (male-female close interactions). They occurred between 17 April 12 June, but mainly from second week May to first both included. Matings (N = 12) took place 25 April, nine two June. These dates indicated that mating season started earlier bear population than other Euroasiatic American populations. Breeding showed greater diurnal activity cloudy rainy weather did non-breeding same period. Also, used brush more often forests grasslands when compared areas ...