The influence of road networks on brown bear spatial distribution and habitat suitability in a human‐modified landscape

Roads are human infrastructure that heavily affect wildlife, often with marked impacts on carnivores, including brown bears Ursus arctos. Here, we assessed the potential impact of road networks distribution in small, isolated and endangered Cantabrian population north-western Spain. To ascertain whether local bear spatial distribution, first influences distance locations to roads using candidate models which included topographic variables, landcover types, age reproductive status, traffic volume visibility. Then, built two sets habitat suitability models, both without roads, discern possible loss caused by roads. The mean nearest was 968 ± 804 m closest a low 72.5% cases. Candidate showed little influence our variables road, exception elevation. Habitat revealed study area seem have almost no effect suitability, except for females yearlings during denning season. However, this result may also be consequence fact only small proportion (16.5%) cells classified as suitable habitats were crossed is, most primarily located unsuitable Mountains. Compared previous studies conducted other populations, mainly North American ones, findings might suggest different response Eurasian due longer bear-human coexistence Europe versus America. indirect approach used does not exclude detrimental effects, example, mortality, increased stress movement pattern disruption, detectable more direct approaches such telemetry.