Work

Brown bear denning habits in northeastern Türkiye

Year: 2024

Type: article

Abstract: Denning behavior plays an important role for species that must survive difficult seasonal conditions when food is scarce. In the first denning study conducted in Türkiye, we investigated the denning habits of brown bears in the evergreen Sarıkamış forests in the east of the country. Using the movement data of bears recorded by GPS between 2014 and 2023, we identified 43 winter dens and 12 day beds (daily resting places) used by bears. This study revealed the existence of five winter dens with separate toilet chambers, a phenomenon not previously documented in the literature. These chambers were separated from the sleeping areas either by rocks or in a tunnel cavity. Our results showed that most winter dens were located in rocky regions and cliffs (83%), while 17% were located in foothills and non-rocky areas, excavated areas, or under tree roots. Notably, the den entrances were narrower in the foothills. This discrepancy can be attributed to the constant height of the caves, which does not differ significantly from natural caves in rocky and mountainous areas. The geographical orientation of the excavated winter dens, which mainly faced north, may also contribute to this difference. Our data on denning chronology highlights significant differences in denning behavior between female and male bears, with females exhibiting longer denning durations. These findings contribute to our understanding of bear ecology and emphasize the importance of considering sex-specific behaviors in wildlife management and conservation efforts. Our results provides valuable insights into potential threats related to human infrastructure's current and future development around the den habitats.

Source: Global Ecology and Conservation

DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03156