Consuming Human Junk Food Linked to Microbial Diversity Loss in Wild Bears
Wild bears grabbing salmon with their large paws as the fish slip back into the water — and occasionally catching one — is one of the most compelling scenes in nature. When it’s not the time of year for a salmon run, the bears’ diet consists of whatever they can find, including berries, roots, insects, grass and other plants. Unfortunately, wild bears can also develop a taste for human foods, including junk food. A recent study found that eating these foods can have an adverse effect on the microbiome of wild bears.