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Traffic kills of brown bears in Gorski kotar, Croatia

At least 73 European brown bears (Ursus arctos) have been killed by vehicles in the forest region (1500 km2) of Gorski kotar, Croatia, from 1963 to 1994. Fifty-one (70%) were killed by trains along the Zagreb - Rijeka railway and 22 (30%) were killed by motor vehicles along roadways in Gorski kotar. Several parameters were measured at known collision sites (N = 46) and at an appropriate number of random sites (N = 61) along roads and railroads. Slope angle and length, as well as longitudinal and perpendicular visibility at accident and random sites, were not significantly different. We concluded that microsite topography had little or no influence on the occurrence of bear traffic accidents. Instead, food sources related to human activities (such as garbage along roads) may have served as local attractants to bears and were found near at least 15 (33%) accident sites, but at only 5 (8%) of the random sites (P < 0.01). We found that 3 main corridors for bear movements were cut by traffic lines. Provisional mitigation measures were proposed to reduce conflict between bears and traffic, and an artificial tunnel or green bridge (100.5-m long) was added to a new highway project.

Croatia; European brown bear; mortality; traffic kills; Ursus arctos

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