Brown bears depend critically on salmon runs for pre-hibernation hyperphagia, and declining salmon populations directly affect individual bear welfare and survival.
Individual bears that fail to gain adequate fat stores before hibernation face a welfare crisis that unfolds slowly across the winter. Pregnant females with insufficient reserves give birth to weaker cubs with lower survival rates, extending welfare consequences across generations. Bears in areas with severely depleted salmon runs must travel farther, compete more intensely, and spend more time on lower-quality food sources, increasing energy expenditure while reducing caloric intake. Dam removal programs that restore salmon migration routes directly benefit bear welfare by restoring the food source on which their annual survival cycle depends.