Under pressure: assessing the influence of hunting on stress and diet quality of boreal bison (Bison bison)

Key Points

• Boreal bison experience increased stress due to hunting, impacting their overall health.
• Diet quality metrics revealed significant changes during hunting seasons, showing altered foraging behavior.
• Assessment using direct observation and dietary analysis across multiple sites in boreal ecosystems highlights critical interactions.
• Findings support the need for effective wildlife management to balance hunting and animal welfare, especially for bison populations.