Drones outperform dogs for hazing bears: a comparison of carnivore aversive conditioning tools
Human-wildlife conflict can result in harm to people and their livelihoods, and frequently ends in reduced tolerance for species and/or removal of animals. Resolving and preventing conflict is essential for conserving carnivore populations. Here I conducted a six-year study of the efficacy of non-le...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2024.1478450/full |
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| author | Wesley M. Sarmento |
| author_facet | Wesley M. Sarmento |
| author_sort | Wesley M. Sarmento |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Human-wildlife conflict can result in harm to people and their livelihoods, and frequently ends in reduced tolerance for species and/or removal of animals. Resolving and preventing conflict is essential for conserving carnivore populations. Here I conducted a six-year study of the efficacy of non-lethal hazing tools to deter grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) away from people on the prairies of North-Central Montana. I tested a new technology, drones, and traditional methods of hazing bears including dogs, projectiles, and vehicular pursuit. These various hazing techniques were successful at stopping undesirable bear behaviors and caused a significant increase in avoidance behavior and distance to human infrastructure. Results from these 163 hazing events suggest aversive conditioning may have occurred over longer time scales as older bears required less hazing and hazing events decreased over each calendar year. Drones outperformed other hazing techniques where the odds of a pursuit of a bear being possible increased 127% relative to vehicular chasing due to accessibility issues. Relative to vehicular pursuit, dogs required high maintenance and had an 86% reduction in the odds a hazing event would be successful relative to vehicular pursuit. Grizzlies fled to locations that were farther from roads and human development. Hazing tools were effective for immediately resolving complaints and preventing further conflicts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a890fbef031d482aa0aadfe21ca235c2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-611X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Conservation Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-a890fbef031d482aa0aadfe21ca235c22025-01-27T06:40:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Conservation Science2673-611X2025-01-01510.3389/fcosc.2024.14784501478450Drones outperform dogs for hazing bears: a comparison of carnivore aversive conditioning toolsWesley M. SarmentoHuman-wildlife conflict can result in harm to people and their livelihoods, and frequently ends in reduced tolerance for species and/or removal of animals. Resolving and preventing conflict is essential for conserving carnivore populations. Here I conducted a six-year study of the efficacy of non-lethal hazing tools to deter grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) away from people on the prairies of North-Central Montana. I tested a new technology, drones, and traditional methods of hazing bears including dogs, projectiles, and vehicular pursuit. These various hazing techniques were successful at stopping undesirable bear behaviors and caused a significant increase in avoidance behavior and distance to human infrastructure. Results from these 163 hazing events suggest aversive conditioning may have occurred over longer time scales as older bears required less hazing and hazing events decreased over each calendar year. Drones outperformed other hazing techniques where the odds of a pursuit of a bear being possible increased 127% relative to vehicular chasing due to accessibility issues. Relative to vehicular pursuit, dogs required high maintenance and had an 86% reduction in the odds a hazing event would be successful relative to vehicular pursuit. Grizzlies fled to locations that were farther from roads and human development. Hazing tools were effective for immediately resolving complaints and preventing further conflicts.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2024.1478450/fullaversive conditioningconflict preventionhuman-wildlife coexistencehuman-wildlife conflictnon-lethalcarnivore recovery |
| spellingShingle | Wesley M. Sarmento Drones outperform dogs for hazing bears: a comparison of carnivore aversive conditioning tools Frontiers in Conservation Science aversive conditioning conflict prevention human-wildlife coexistence human-wildlife conflict non-lethal carnivore recovery |
| title | Drones outperform dogs for hazing bears: a comparison of carnivore aversive conditioning tools |
| title_full | Drones outperform dogs for hazing bears: a comparison of carnivore aversive conditioning tools |
| title_fullStr | Drones outperform dogs for hazing bears: a comparison of carnivore aversive conditioning tools |
| title_full_unstemmed | Drones outperform dogs for hazing bears: a comparison of carnivore aversive conditioning tools |
| title_short | Drones outperform dogs for hazing bears: a comparison of carnivore aversive conditioning tools |
| title_sort | drones outperform dogs for hazing bears a comparison of carnivore aversive conditioning tools |
| topic | aversive conditioning conflict prevention human-wildlife coexistence human-wildlife conflict non-lethal carnivore recovery |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcosc.2024.1478450/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wesleymsarmento dronesoutperformdogsforhazingbearsacomparisonofcarnivoreaversiveconditioningtools |