Changing grizzly bear space use and functional connectivity in response to human disturbance in the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains

Human disturbance, including roads and settlements, significantly alters grizzly bear movement and functional connectivity in the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains. Research using integrated step-selection functions (iSSF) on 109 GPS-collared bears revealed that bears avoid highways but are attracted to low-forage areas alongside them, such as in Banff National Park and Kananaskis. Females tend to avoid towns during spring and summer, while males are more likely to traverse them. Future scenarios with increased mining and settlements predict further declines in connectivity, exacerbating existing losses. The study advances conservation strategies by incorporating individual-level variation into population simulations, providing actionable insights for transboundary management and protection of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Palm, E. C., Apps, C. D., Avgar, T., Dickie, M., McLellan, B. N., Northrup, J. M., Sawaya, M. A., Turner, J. W., Whittington, J., Landguth, E. L., Zeller, K. A., & Lamb, C. T. (2025). Changing grizzly bear space use and functional connectivity in response to human disturbance in the southern Canadian Rocky Mountains. Conservation Science and Practice, 7(8). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.70088