Does artificial feeding affect large carnivore behaviours? The case study of brown bears in a hunted and tourist exploited subpopulation

Artificial food supplementation of wildlife is an increasing practice for species conservation, as well hunting and viewing tourism. Yet, our understanding the implications supplementary feeding still very limited. Concerns have been raised over potential negative impact artificial feeding, but effects this on animal movements rhythms activity are just beginning to be investigated. Here, with aim studying whether brown bears may affect their behaviour, we analysed (1) probability intensity site use at different temporal scales, (2) how sites related bear's age sex, main periods annual cycle (i.e. mating hyperphagia) characteristics sites, (3) affecting bear movement patterns. We 71 radio-collared in southern-central Finland western Russian Karelia. had several boreal habitats. The a being used was positively correlated stability resource time, whereas sexes classes (subadults, adults females cubs) did not show significant differences which were visited predominantly night slightly more during hyperphagia. using affected daily net distance only (bears sites: 3.5 ± 4.5 km, range: 0–29 km; 4.4 4.9 0–47 km). Those intensively moved shorter distances lower speed within smaller home ranges compared that sources less. Highly predictable continuously available anthropogenic therefore substantial impacts patterns, ecology health. recorded changes patterns support evidence important conservation.