GPS COLLARING OF BROWN BEARS: Towards coexistence

The study aims to determine the home-range size, daily movements and habitat selection of individual bears — in other words, where the same bear moves over time, how close it comes to settlements and when. This requires continuous tracking of identified individuals. A trail camera records a single location: it shows that a bear passed a certain point, but not which bear it was or where it is when outside the camera’s field of view. It therefore cannot reveal the animal’s home range, route or use of the landscape.

The state already has photographs and videos from hunters’ trail cameras, but no reliable way to distinguish the observations from one another. From 5,000 images, it is impossible to determine whether they show 1,000 different bears or repeated observations of the same individuals.

GPS telemetry provides information that cameras cannot. In countries with established wildlife telemetry programmes, it is a routine and necessary method: thousands of bears, wolves and lynx have been collared in Scandinavia, while almost none have been collared in the Baltic states. Our team previously collared one bear as part of a study, and that remains the extent of Estonia’s experience with bear telemetry. The state has not funded this work, although it has acknowledged the need. Scientists are therefore trying to begin with support from donors, in the hope that the state will continue the work.

Each bear is anaesthetised by a veterinarian, who monitors its welfare throughout the collaring procedure. Bears are captured in a trap, which allows the team to assess the bear’s weight and general condition at close range and calculate the appropriate dose of anaesthetic more accurately. Trapping also prevents a sedated animal from escaping and keeps the procedure under control.

Bears that are unsuitable for collaring are not anaesthetised and are simply released from the trap. A bear wears the collar for approximately 4–5 years. Two-way satellite communication allows the team to activate the collar’s automatic drop-off mechanism remotely, so the bear does not need to be captured again to remove it. The collars are designed specifically for wildlife. The same model has been used in studies around the world and has demonstrated its reliability and safety.

The main conservation value lies in reducing conflict through coexistence, because human actions and attitudes towards bears inevitably pose the greatest threat to the bear population. Knowing where, when and under what conditions bears approach areas used by people makes it possible to give specific advice on preventing conflict, such as the distance between silage bales and forest cover, the placement of hiking trails and electric fencing around apiaries. Fewer conflicts mean fewer bears killed as a result of conflict and greater public tolerance of the species. Both support the population’s long-term persistence.

The study will also provide Estonia-specific baseline data, including home-range size and habitat selection, that existing studies of smaller populations in different landscapes do not cover. It will provide a scientific basis for interpreting bear behaviour: whether a bear near a settlement is an anomaly or whether this is part of normal behaviour that may be important for survival and does not necessarily lead to conflict.

Bear hunting is governed by the European Union Habitats Directive, under which bears may not be hunted without valid justification and compliance with the conditions set out in the Directive. The study may provide information that helps the state plan bear-related measures more effectively, but setting hunting quotas and regulating bear management are not objectives of the study. The data are collected and managed by Tartu Ülikool researchers on our team.

The project is carried out by Tartu Ülikool scientists who are experts in the field. They have been granted a permit by Keskkonnaamet to capture and mark bears, which constitutes Keskkonnaamet’s approval of the study and confirmation of its ethical acceptability. The methodology is widely recognised and has been continually refined to reduce its impact on animals. The scientists leading the project have also completed the relevant training.

It is not possible to prevent every non-target animal from entering a trap, but cameras monitor the traps and the team responds immediately. If another animal is caught, it can be released as quickly as possible.

Only the researchers have access to precise data. Processed data and summaries will be shared with interested parties, but the bears’ exact locations will not be disclosed to unauthorised people.