Wildlife responses to nonmotorized recreation in the Southern Canadian Rockies: a multiscale analysis near Fernie, BC

Abstract Human outdoor recreation is expanding across natural landscapes, yet its effects on wildlife remain poorly understood across spatial and temporal scales and across different contexts. We assessed the responses of large mammals to nonmotorized recreation near Fernie, British Columbia, Canada, using a multiscale observational approach combining data from 66 camera traps and GPS telemetry from 21 grizzly bears (Ursus arctos). We evaluated the following: (1) how wildlife detections varied by trail type, relative to the broader landscape, and with varying levels of recreational users; (2) whether animals shifted activity to avoid peak human use; and (3) how collared Grizzly Bear movement responded to recreation trails compared to other anthropogenic features. Trail type, surrounding landscape, and recreational pressure significantly influenced detection rates, but responses varied by species and scales. Elk (Cervus canadensis) showed the strongest avoidance, with reduced presence on recreation trails and a marked shift toward low-use periods. In contrast, Moose (Alces alces) and Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) were more frequently detected on or near recreation trails. Grizzly bears consistently avoided areas adjacent to recreation trails in GPS movement data and camera detections but were detected on recreation trails more than nearby wildlife trails suggesting that when they do move through the trail network they do so on recreation trails. These findings highlight species- and scale-dependent behavioral responses, with effects ranging from strong (elk), to moderate (grizzly bears), to minimal (black bears, moose, mule deer, red foxes, and white-tailed deer). Our results suggest that concentrating recreation near existing developed areas and during mid-day should minimize impacts on wildlife while providing important access to recreation for people. Maintaining low-use zones elsewhere will be important for more sensitive species. While observational studies like ours are valuable for identifying patterns and informing management of rapidly changing pressures, stronger inference through experimental designs is encouraged to clarify causal relationships between recreation and wildlife behavior and further elucidate species- and context-dependent relationships.