The physiological impacts of anthropogenically altered landscapes on a large omnivorous Carnivoran, the brown bear (Ursus arctos)

Human-altered habitats are known to increase stress in wildlife, with large predators like Eurasian brown bears particularly vulnerable due to their low reproductive rates, large spatial needs, and limited adaptability. This study assessed the physiological impacts of human activities on bear populations in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro, using telomeric, haematological, and hormonal indicators. Findings revealed stress responses linked to food availability, artificial feeding, and human footprint. Acute stress from handling and trapping, alongside long-term impacts of habitat quality and nutritional changes, underscore the need for coordinated conservation strategies to sustain bear populations in human-dominated landscapes.