Movements, activity patterns and home range of a female brown bear (Ursus arctos, L.) in the Rodopi Mountain Range, Greece

Movements and activity patterns of an adult radio-tagged female brown bear accompanied by her cubs were documented for the first time in Rodopi area (NE Greece) from August 2000 to July 2002. Average daily movements were 2.45 ± 2.26 SD km, (range 0.15-8.5 km). The longest daily range could be related to human disturbance (hunting activity).The longest seasonal distance (211 km), during summer 2001 coincided with the dissolution of the family. With cubs, the female was more active during daytime (73 % of all radio-readings) than when solitary (28 %). The female switched to a more crepuscular behaviour, after separation from the yearling (July 2001). According to pooled data from 924 activity - recording sessions, during the whole monitoring period, the female was almost twice as active during day time while rearing cubs (51% active) than when solitary (23%). The autumn and early winter home range size of the family was larger (280 km2) than after the separation from the cubs (59 km2). During the family group phase, home range size varied from 258 km2 in autumn to 40 km2 in winter (average denning period lasted 107 days : December 2000-March 2001). The bear hibernated in the Bulgarian part of the Rodopi Range during winters of 2001 and 2002.