Brown bears are increasingly killed on roads as expanding infrastructure bisects their habitat, with wildlife crossing structures significantly reducing mortality.
Bears struck by vehicles suffer traumatic injuries and death in one of the most violent ways possible for a large carnivore. Non-fatal collisions cause serious injuries including broken limbs, internal injuries, and head trauma that may lead to prolonged suffering and slow death or permanent disability. Road fragmentation forces bears to make dangerous crossings or restricts them to inadequate habitat areas, creating chronic stress and resource competition. Investment in wildlife crossing infrastructure prevents both individual welfare harms and population fragmentation effects.