Potential energetic effects of mountain climbers on foraging grizzly bears

摘要: Most studies of the effects human disturbance on grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribills) have not quantified energetic such interactions. In this study, we characterized activity budgets adult as they foraged aggregations army cutworm moths (Euxoa auxiliaris) in alpine Glacier National Park, Montana, during 1992, 1994, and 1995. We compared climberdisturbed to those undisturbed estimate impact climber disturbance. When detected climbers, subsequently spent 53% less time foraging moths, 52% more moving within area, 23% behaving aggressively, when were disturbed. estimated that could consume approximately 40,000 moths/day or 1,700 moths/hour. At 0.44 kcal/moth, disruption moth feeding cost 12 kcal/minute addition energy expended evasive maneuvers defensive behaviors. To reduce both interruption bear potential for aggressive bear-human encounters, recommend routing climbers around sites used by limiting access these bear-use periods.