It’s no surprise that bears are one of nature’s deadliest predators. However, researchers in Sweden concluded that bears have been on a killing spree lately.
Swedish researchers, who tracked 15 brown bears for 2 years using GPS collars, concluded that the bears narrowed the area to reindeer. Noting that bears follow the calving periods of deer and not only that, they also follow the migration routes of deer, researchers report that a female bear kills 38 reindeer cubs in just one month.
The most striking detail in the report is that the bears studied change their hunting grounds according to the calving seasons of the reindeer, while wildlife conservation expert Dr. “We’ve seen grizzly bears change their habitat between deer calving periods,” says Antonio Uzal Fernandez.
Up to 30% of reindeer calves are killed by bears each year, leading to economic losses for shepherds. These deaths have a significant demographic impact on reindeer herds, particularly with the loss of female calves, which may threaten the long-term viability of the herd.
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