PROJECT:
A comparative analysis of the affects of
road densities, hunting pressure, and management strategies on
the movement and behavior of black bears
in Northern Idaho
Objectives:
Over the course of two years, we will aim to deploy GPS collars
on up to 25 individual bears throughout the study area. Data
from these collars will be retrieved from denned bears, and
then analyzed in a GIS framework. By combining our data from
the Coeur d’Alenes with data previously collected in
the Purcells (Lewis et al. in press), we will look at the
affects of varying road density, volume of use, and hunting
practices on black bears. To supplement the four years of
GPS data that our study combined with the Purcell study will
provide, we will deploy traffic counters throughout both
studies during spring and fall hunting seasons, as well as
the summer pursuit season. In addition, we will conduct phone
and/or mail surveys of licensed bear hunters in both areas,
in an effort to determine amount of hunting pressure in each
area, as well as method of hunting used. In the Coeur d’Alenes,
we will also look to get an estimate of number of bears both
harvested and pursued with the use of hounds. This coalescence
of information will enable us to more effectively asses the
impacts of roads, hunting pressure, and hunting techniques
on black bears within these areas.
Progress:
From June 1 through August 8, 2007, we had between 15 and 29
trap sites open at any given time throughout the study area,
resulting in a total of 32 black bear captures (18 males
and 14 females). Among these, 27 individual black bears were
captured, consisting of 13 females and 14 males. For the
purpose of collaring bears, we had a minimum weight requirement
of 70 pounds. For males, we collared only animals that weighed
at least 130 pounds, and were estimated to be at least five
years old. Given these requirements, a total 18 collars were
placed on black bears (15 GPS and three VHF) this summer.
Eight GPS and two VHF collars were placed on females, while
seven GPS collars and one VHF collar placed on males. VHF
collars were used on one smaller male, and on females after
all GPS collars had been deployed.
