Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Aggressive Body Language of Bears and Wildlife Viewing: A Response to Geist (2011)
Date of this Version
Fall 2011
Document Type
Article
Citation
Human–Wildlife Interactions (Fall 2011) 5(2): article 4
doi: 10.26077/ewbw-1684
Special topic: Bird strikes
Abstract
Geist’s (2011) commentary has 3 main points: (1) habituation increases risk that large-bodied wildlife will injure people; (2) an animal’s body language often provides reliable clues of impending assault; and (3) although some of those clues are obvious, others are easily overlooked by untrained people. Whereas Geist’s emphasis is on ungulates, he also suggests that similar behaviors by bears have the same significance; this is an issue that requires clarification.
. . .
The intensity of research on body language that characterized early ethology has, unfortunately, waned in the face of newer theoretical priorities. Until recently, few researchers or wildlife managers recognized the pragmatic value of ethological knowledge for people viewing large, potentially dangerous wildlife, much less that viewing would become so popular. At least occasionally, viewer safety may depend critically on being accompanied by a specialist (e.g., interpretive guide or ranger) who understands enough about the behavior of each species to distinguish a wide range of motivations and who knows how to respond appropriately to each. We should not wait until more viewers are mauled before we begin elevating the qualifications of viewing guides and managers to the levels of professionalism long since achieved for hunting guides and managers. Biologists should compile knowledge on behavior of charismatic wildlife into multimedia safety manuals, with elementary versions for casual viewers as well as detailed volumes for professionals (e.g., Stringham 1974, 2002, 2008, 2009;.