Gibeau, M. and Herrero, S. 2001. Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project:
A Progress Report for 2000 (ESGBP): April 2001. Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
Note: You can also download a PDF version of this report.
NEW FEATURE: Table of Contents links and Table links are activated in this file (HTML format).
Prepared for the Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Steering Committee
This paper contains preliminary results of an on-going study and should not be cited
without permission from the authors.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
- GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
- STUDY AREA
- METHODS
- RESULTS
WEBSITE
POPULATION STUDIES
CAPTURE
TELEMETRY DATA SET
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS
- SCHEDULED CONCLUSION
- LITERATURE CITED
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Grizzly bear capture data in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 2000
Table 2. Status of all grizzly bears captured in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, as of November 2000
Table 3. Unduplicated grizzly bear females with cubs of the year in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2000
Table 4. Number of unduplicated females with cubs of the year (COY), and 6 year running averages in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2000
Table 5. Reproductive status of known female grizzly bears in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 2000
Table 6. Summary of grizzly bear mortalities in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2000. 9
Table 7. Summary of grizzly bear translocations in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2000
Table 8. Summary of known grizzly bear mortalities and removals by jurisdiction and activity in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993-2000
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A very successful seventh field season would not have been possible without the dedication of field biologists C. Hague, B. McClarty and S. Stevens. Their efforts were augmented through the largely volunteer support of C. Campbell. Assistance in coordination of field staff was provided by A. Dibb, S. Donelon and T. Hurd. Trapping was conducted by the Banff National Park Warden Service and Alberta Natural Resources Service. Veterinary care was provided by Dr. Todd Shury. Several Alberta Conservation Officers and Banff National Park Wardens provided invaluable safety backup, field assistance and logistical support through all stages of monitoring. Exemplary flying skills were provided by Alpine Helicopters of Canmore and fixed wing pilot M. Dupuis and T. Kulbida of Wildlife Observation Air Services.
The Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Steering Committee helped implement and guided this research. All steering committee participants contribute either money, time or both toward the objectives. Through the Steering Committee, governments, industry, business and conservation groups work together to support this project. The supporters include:
Alberta Environment
Natural Resources Service (NRS)
Lands & Forest Service
Alberta Cattle Commission
Alberta Conservation Association
Alberta Energy Utilities Board Committee (EUB)
Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association
Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife Foundation
Alpine Helicopters
AMOCO Canada Petroleum Co. Ltd.
Anonymous Foundation donor
Bow Valley Naturalists
British Columbia Ministry of Environment
Wildlife Division
Calgary Area Outdoor Council (CAOC)
Calgary Zoo
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)
Canadian Pacific Charitable Foundation
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)Calgary/Banff Chapter
Canmore Collegiate High School
Crown of the Continent Electronic Data Atlas
Eagle Terrace Developments
Elbow Valley Campgrounds
Friends of Banff
Friends of Kananaskis Country
Foothills Model Forest Grizzly Bear Project
Human Resources Development Canada
Husky Oil
Miistakis Institute
Mistaya Communications
Mountain Electronics
Mountain Equipment Co-op
National Science and Engineering Research Council
(NSERC)
Parks Canada
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Rigel Energy
Shell Canada LimitedSpray Lakes Sawmills (1980) Ltd.
Springbank Middle School
Switching Gear
Totem Outdoor Outfitters
Three Sisters Resorts
University of Alberta
University of Calgary
Faculty of Environmental Design
Resources & the Environment Program
Warner Guiding and Outfitting Ltd.
Wilburforce Foundation
Wilderness Medical Society
World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF)
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
During 2000 our research focused on gathering basic reproductive and mortality data for analysis of demographic parameters. Another important research question we focused on is how do grizzly bear’s spatial and temporal use patterns differ in areas of high human presence compared to areas with low human presence in a landscape, some of which is dominated by tourism activities? Our situation is unique in that no other grizzly bear study area in North America has both a high volume transcontentinal highway and railway dissecting occupied grizzly bear habitat along with intensive tourism. Analysis has never been done on the effects of such levels of human presence on grizzly bears. One important question is the extent to which the Bow River Valley continues to function as a major movement corridor for bears providing connectivity between habitats.
The overall goal of ESGBP research is to understand how developments and human-induced mortality impact grizzly bears. Specific research objectives include:
1. Determine the basic demographic parameters for the grizzly bear population within the study area.
2. Detect spatial and temporal activity patterns of bears given various levels of human influences.
3. Determine how the distribution of humans affects a bear’s ability to use the landscape.
4. Determine if population connectivity is being impeded by major transportation corridors.
5. Determine what adjustments to human activities would give bears better access to resources.
6. Suggest management alternatives for integrating land uses compatible with bear habitat and survival needs for the study area.
STUDY AREA
The area of interest remains unchanged from year 1 with the approximately 11,400 km2 Bow River Watershed, from its headwaters to approximately where it meets the prairies, as the core study area. The greater study area defined by the movement of radio-collared bears is about 22,000 km2 or roughly twice the size of the core study area. At the largest scale our research encompasses the 42,000 km2 Central Rockies Ecosystem (Komex International 1995).
METHODS
Methods for both the capture and monitoring of bears remain unchanged from the detailed description found in the year 1 progress report (Gibeau and Herrero 1995). Approximately 25 grizzly bears per year have active radio-collars. These bears are monitored from air and ground wherever they go and our budget permits. Aerial monitoring gives infrequent, but relatively unbiased data regarding location. This facilitates understanding of home range, movements and habitat use. Ground-based research allows intensive monitoring of grizzly bear activities related to development features such as towns, highways, campgrounds and trails. Mortality is monitored using both aerial and ground-based telemetry. The radio-telemetry monitoring area includes lands under several different jurisdictions. In the British Columbia portion of these lands, where some of our radio-collared grizzly bears are found, there is a Western Slopes Bear Research Project which provides complementary data and will allow a broader ecosystem versus provincial boundary-based understanding of grizzly bears in the Central Rockies Ecosystem.
RESULTS
WEBSITE
Most of the ESGBP publications plus considerable other related material can be found on this, the ESGBP website, and is available for downloading. Go to the Research Publications Section.
POPULATION STUDIES
CAPTURE
There was no planned trapping effort in 2000 although 4 grizzly bears were captured during management actions (Table 1).
ID |
Sex |
Age Estimate |
Weight (kg) |
Area |
Comments |
33 |
F |
25a* |
n/a |
Two Jack |
recapture |
68 |
M |
5a |
n/a |
Two Jack |
|
69 |
F |
3a |
93 |
Nakiska |
|
70 |
F |
3a |
79 |
Nakiska |
|
* certainty code a= +/- 0 years, b= +/- 1-2 years, c= +/- 2-3 years
TELEMETRY DATA SET
Aerial and ground monitoring from early April until the first week of November produced 1641 point locations for the 2000 field season. Of these 439 (27 %) were from the air and 1202 (73%) from ground monitoring. Aerial locations were biased toward early morning hours. Ground locations were biased towards where observers could travel easily.
Since the project began in May 1994 a total of 61 individuals have been handled (Table 2). Of those, 15 have died, and 24 are currently radio collared. The sex/age breakdown of the current radio collared sample is as follows:
15 adult females 5 adult males
3 subadult females 1 subadult male
Table 2. Status of all grizzly bears captured in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, as of November 2000.
ID
|
Sex
|
Age class 1
|
Age at first capture 2
|
Months monitored
|
Fate
|
Cause 3
|
Most recent sighting 4
|
10
|
M
|
AD
|
13a
|
07/94 – 06/96 and 04/97 – 06/98
|
lost
|
drop collar
|
|
11
|
M
|
SA
|
4b
|
05/94 – 03/96
|
|||
11
|
AD
|
03/96 – 07/97
|
lost
|
drop collar
|
|||
12
|
M
|
AD
|
13b
|
05/94 – 10/94
|
dead
|
self defense
|
|
13
|
M
|
SA
|
5a
|
05/94 – 03/95
|
|||
13
|
AD
|
03/95 – 10/00
|
active
|
||||
14
|
M
|
AD
|
9a
|
05/95 – 05/97
|
lost
|
no signal – b
|
|
15
|
M
|
AD
|
6a
|
05/94 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
16
|
M
|
SA
|
5a
|
08/93 – 03/94
|
|||
16
|
AD
|
03/94 – 07/96
|
dead
|
removed to zoo
|
|||
17
|
F
|
AD
|
10a
|
06/94 – 07/96
|
lost
|
drop collar
|
10/99
|
18
|
F
|
AD
|
6a
|
05/94 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
19
|
M
|
AD
|
6b
|
05/94 – 05/94
|
dead
|
accidental
|
|
20
|
M
|
AD
|
11a
|
05/94 – 07/94
|
lost
|
drop collar
|
|
21
|
M
|
SA
|
3a
|
05/94 – 07/95
|
dead
|
problem wildlife
|
|
22
|
M
|
AD
|
14a
|
05/94 – 05/94
|
dead
|
legal hunting
|
|
23 |
M
|
SA
|
3a
|
05/94 – 08/96
|
dead
|
problem wildlife
|
|
24
|
F
|
SA
|
5a
|
05/94 – 03/95
|
|||
24
|
AD
|
03/95 – 10/00
|
active
|
||||
25
|
M
|
AD
|
6a
|
05/94 – 09/94
|
lost
|
drop collar
|
07/95
|
26
|
F
|
AD
|
18a
|
06/94 – 09/99
|
dead
|
self defense
|
|
27
|
F
|
SA
|
2a
|
06/94 – 09/95
|
lost
|
no signal – b
|
06/99
|
28
|
F
|
AD
|
22a
|
06/94 – 08/96
|
dead
|
natural
|
|
29
|
M
|
SA
|
2a
|
never collared
|
|||
30
|
F
|
AD
|
9a
|
09/94 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
31
|
F
|
AD
|
7c
|
06/94 – 04/96
|
lost
|
drop collar
|
|
32
|
F
|
AD
|
13b
|
06/94 – 10/97
|
lost
|
drop collar
|
|
33
|
F
|
AD
|
19a
|
06/94 – 09/99 and 08/00 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
34
|
M
|
AD
|
6a
|
05/95 – 11/96
|
lost
|
no signal – b
|
|
35
|
F
|
SA
|
4a
|
05/96 – 09/97
|
dead
|
treaty Indian
|
|
36
|
F
|
AD
|
8a
|
06/93 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
37
|
F
|
AD
|
10a
|
06/94 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
38
|
M
|
D
|
1a
|
never collared
|
|||
39
|
F
|
SA
|
3a
|
05/95 – 08/96
|
lost
|
no signal – b
|
|
40
|
F
|
AD
|
15c
|
05/95 – 06/00
|
dead
|
natural
|
|
41
|
F
|
AD
|
12a
|
05/95 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
42
|
M
|
AD
|
7a
|
05/95 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
43
|
M
|
SA
|
5a
|
05/96 – 10/96
|
dead
|
illegal
|
|
44
|
M
|
SA
|
4a
|
06/95 – 08/96
|
dead
|
treaty Indian
|
|
ID
|
Sex
|
Age class 1
|
Age at first capture 2
|
Months monitored
|
Fate
|
Cause 3
|
Most recent sighting 4
|
45
|
AD
|
06/00 – 10/00
|
active
|
||||
46
|
F
|
AD
|
11a
|
06/95 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
47
|
F
|
AD
|
9a
|
06/96 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
48
|
F
|
D
|
2a
|
06/96 – 06/97
|
|||
48
|
SA
|
06/97 – 09/97
|
lost
|
no signal – c
|
|||
49
|
M
|
D
|
2a
|
06/96 – 06/97
|
|||
49
|
SA
|
06/97 – 06/98
|
lost
|
no signal – b
|
10/99
|
||
50
|
M
|
SA
|
4a
|
06/96 – 06/96
|
lost
|
no signal – a
|
|
51
|
M
|
AD
|
8a
|
05/97 – 06/98
|
lost
|
drop collar
|
|
52
|
M
|
AD
|
7b
|
05/97 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
53
|
M
|
SA
|
3a
|
05/97 – 10/98
|
dead
|
illegal
|
|
54
|
M
|
AD
|
15a
|
06/97 – 10/99
|
lost
|
no signal -c
|
|
55
|
F
|
AD
|
6a
|
06/97 – 09/99
|
lost
|
drop collar
|
10/99
|
56
|
F
|
D
|
3a
|
05/97 – 06/98
|
|||
56
|
SA
|
06/98 – 03/00
|
|||||
56
|
AD
|
03/00 – 10/00
|
active
|
||||
57
|
F
|
SA
|
5a
|
05/97 – 03/98
|
|||
57
|
AD
|
03/98 – 10/00
|
active
|
||||
58
|
M
|
AD
|
9a
|
06/97 – 09/97
|
dead
|
problem wildlife
|
|
59
|
F
|
D
|
3a
|
05/97 – 06/98
|
|||
59
|
SA
|
06/98 – 03/00
|
|||||
59
|
AD
|
03/00 – 10/00
|
active
|
||||
60
|
F
|
D
|
3a
|
05/97 – 06/98
|
|||
60
|
SA
|
06/98 – 03/00
|
|||||
60
|
AD
|
03/00 – 08/00
|
dead
|
accidental
|
|||
61
|
F
|
AD
|
12a
|
06/97 – 08/99
|
lost
|
no signal -c or a
|
|
62
|
F
|
AD
|
8a
|
06/97 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
63
|
F
|
AD
|
7a
|
06/99 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
64
|
F
|
AD
|
10a
|
06/99 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
65
|
F
|
D
|
4a
|
05/98 – 06/99
|
|||
65
|
SA
|
06/99 – 03/00
|
|||||
65
|
AD
|
03/00 – 08/00
|
lost
|
drop collar
|
|||
66
|
F
|
SA
|
4a
|
06/99 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
67
|
M
|
SA
|
3a
|
06/99 – 10/99
|
lost
|
no signal – b
|
06/00
|
68
|
M
|
SA
|
5a
|
08/00 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
69
|
F
|
SA
|
3a
|
09/00 – 10/00
|
active
|
||
70
|
F
|
SA
|
3a
|
09/00 – 10/00
|
active
|
1 D = dependent, SA = subadult, AD = adult (>5 years old)
2 certainty code from tooth analysis: a = +/- 0 years, b = +/- 1-2 years, c = +/- 2-3 years
3 (a) High probability that disappearance was related to death, (b) High probability that disappearance was unrelated to death, (c) No indication of which of the above 2 choices is more likely
4 sightings of animals who’s collar has either failed or dropped off
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS
Observations from the research team as well as records from Banff National Park and Alberta Natural Resources Service established a minimum unduplicated count of females with cubs for the year (Table 3). Over time, a minimum count of sows with cubs (Table 4) can be established and used as a trend indicator (Knight et al. 1995).
Table 3. Unduplicated grizzly bear females with cubs of the year in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2000.
Family Identification |
Most Cubs Observed |
Location |
# of Sightings |
A – 1993 |
1 |
Bryant Creek |
2 |
B – 1993 |
2 |
Fatigue Creek |
1 |
C – 1993 |
2 |
Moraine Lake |
1 |
D – 1993 |
2 |
Cascade River |
1 |
E – 1993 |
2 |
Elbow R. / Nahahi Ridge |
3 |
F – 1993 |
2 |
Kananaskis Lakes |
4 |
A – 1994 |
2 |
Lower Cascade River |
1 |
B – 1994 |
1 |
Moose Mtn. / Elbow R. |
2 |
C – 1994 |
2 |
Mt. Indefatigable |
4 |
D – 1994 |
1 |
Bryant Cr. / Mt. Nestor |
2 |
Bear #28 1994 |
1 |
Upper Cascade River |
2 |
Bear #30 1994 |
3 |
Baker Lake / Pipestone R. |
5 |
Bear #36 1994 |
1 |
Upper Bow River |
2 |
Bear #46 1994 |
2 |
Pipestone River |
1 |
Bear #47 1994 |
2 |
Kananaskis Lakes |
2 |
A – 1995 |
2 |
West Bragg Cr / Powderface |
3 |
B – 1995 |
2 |
Skogan Pass / Wasootch |
3 |
C – 1995 |
2 |
Upper Spray / Albert R. |
3 |
Bear #17 1995 |
1 |
Cascade River |
13 |
Bear #18 1995 |
3 |
Bryant Cr. / Assiniboine |
10 |
Bear #26 1995 |
2 |
Nakiska / Evans Thomas |
6 |
Bear #31 1995 |
2 |
Highwood River |
3 |
Bear #32 1995 |
3 |
Forty Mile Cr. / Elk Lake |
12 |
Bear #33 1995 |
3 |
Cascade River / Stoney Cr. |
14 |
A – 1996 |
1 |
Cascade R. / Grassy Ridge |
1 |
B – 1996 |
3 |
Mid Spray River |
1 |
Bear #24 1996 |
2 |
Highwood Pass |
25 |
Bear #36 1996 |
2 |
Upper Bow River |
8 |
Bear #37 1996 |
2 |
Elbow / Sheep Rivers |
3 |
A – 1997 |
2 |
Wind Valley |
2 |
B – 1997 |
3 |
Elbow Lakes |
2 |
Family Identification |
Most Cubs Observed |
Location |
# of Sightings |
A – 1998 |
1 |
West Bragg Creek |
2 |
B – 1998 |
2 |
Palliser Range |
2 |
C – 1998 |
1 |
Pipestone River |
1 |
Bear # 33 1998 |
2 |
Cascade River |
4 |
Bear # 41 1998 |
1 |
Simpson River |
4 |
Bear # 47 1998 |
2 |
Kananaskis Lakes |
3 |
Bear # 55 1998 |
1 |
Cascade River |
9 |
Bear # 57 1998 |
2 |
Plateau Mtn |
6 |
Bear # 18 1999 |
1 |
Bryant Creek |
4 |
Bear # 26 1999 |
2 |
Nakiska |
1 |
Bear # 36 1999 |
2 |
Upper Bow R |
5 |
Bear # 56 2000 |
1 |
Lake Louise |
10 |
Bear # 37 2000 |
2 |
Elbow River |
3 |
A – 2000 |
2 |
Elpoca Cr. |
2 |
Table 4. Number of unduplicated females with cubs of the year (COY), and 6 year running averages in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2000.
6 year running averages
6 year running averages |
||||||
F w/COY |
# cubs |
Litter size |
||||
1993 |
6 |
11 |
1.8 |
|
|
|
1994 |
9 |
15 |
1.6 |
|
|
|
1995 |
9 |
20 |
2.2 |
|
|
|
1996 |
5 |
10 |
2.0 |
|
|
|
1997 |
2 |
5 |
2.5 |
|
|
|
1998 |
8 |
12 |
1.5 |
6.5 |
12.2 |
1.9 |
1999 |
3 |
5 |
1.6 |
6.0 |
11.2 |
1.9 |
2000 |
3 |
5 |
1.6 |
5.0 |
9.5 |
1.9 |
Reproductive success of radio collared females was determined through year to year visual observations between 1994 and 2000 (Table 5). Year to year cub survivorship can be tracked by referring to the table and comparing the number of cubs observed in a given year to the previous years observations. Reproductive data from collared females is being be used to construct an estimate of whether the sample population is increasing or decreasing.
Table 5. Reproductive status of known female grizzly bears in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 2000.
Female |
Location |
Age at first |
|
|
|
Cubs In |
|
|
|
Age of First |
Interbirth |
# |
capture |
94 |
95 |
96 |
97 |
98 |
99 |
2000 |
Parturition |
Interval |
|
17 |
Cascade River |
10 |
0 |
1yoy |
1 |
off air |
2yoy |
2 |
3 |
||
18 |
Bryant Creek |
6 |
0 |
3yoy |
2 |
2 |
2* |
1yoy |
1 |
7 |
4 |
24 |
Highwood Pass |
5 |
0 |
0 |
2yoy |
2 |
2* |
0 |
0 |
7 |
5+ |
26 |
Nakisa |
18 |
2* |
2yoy |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2yoy/died |
0 |
4 |
|
27 |
Cascade River |
2 |
0 |
0/off air |
– |
– |
2yoy |
2 |
6 |
||
28 |
Cascade River |
22 |
1yoy |
0 |
0/died |
||||||
30 |
Lake Louise |
9 |
3yoy |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3* |
0 |
0 |
7+ |
|
31 |
Highwood River |
7 |
0 |
2yoy |
off air |
8 |
|||||
32 |
Cascade River |
13 |
1* |
3yoy |
3 |
3* |
off air |
||||
33 |
Cascade River |
19 |
2* |
3yoy |
2 |
2* |
2yoy |
2 |
2 |
3 |
|
35 |
Evan Thomas |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0/died |
||||||
36 |
Upper Bow River |
8 |
1yoy |
0 |
2yoy |
1 |
0 |
2yoy |
2 |
3 |
|
37 |
Sheep River |
10 |
1* |
0 |
2yoy |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2yoy |
4 |
|
39 |
Kananaskis River |
3 |
0 |
0/off air |
|||||||
40 |
Spray River |
15 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0/died |
|||
41 |
Brewster Creek |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1yoy |
1 |
1 |
|||
46 |
Pipestone Creek |
10 |
2yoy |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2* |
0 |
7+ |
|
47 |
Kananaskis Lakes |
7 |
2yoy |
2 |
2 |
2* |
2yoy |
2 |
7 |
4 |
|
48 |
Kananaskis Lakes |
2 |
0 |
0/off air |
|||||||
55 |
Cascade River |
6 |
0 |
1yoy |
1/off air |
1 |
7 |
||||
56 |
Lake Louise |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1yoy>0 |
6 |
||||
57 |
Cateract Creek |
5 |
0 |
2yoy |
2 |
2 |
6 |
||||
59 |
Lake Louise |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7+ |
||||
60 |
Lake Louise |
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0/died |
|||||
61 |
Spray River |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0/died ? |
||||||
62 |
Cascade River |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|||||
63 |
Yoho R. |
7 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
64 |
Healy Creek |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|||||||
65 |
Pipestone River |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0/off air |
7+ |
|||||
66 |
Cascade River |
4 |
0 |
0 |
6+ |
||||||
69 |
Wind Valley |
4 |
0 |
||||||||
70 |
Wind Valley |
4 |
0 |
||||||||
* denotes cubs dispersed
There were 3 known mortalities within the study area in 2000 (Table 6). Adult female #40 died of natural causes in June after falling off a cliff. Adult female #60 was hit and killed by a train near Lake Louise in August. An unmarked subadult male was shot in self defense in Kananaskis Country in September.
Table 6. Summary of grizzly bear mortalities in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2000.
Bear Identification |
Date |
Location |
Sex |
Age |
Kill Type |
AFWS #21055a |
08/19/93 |
West Spray-408b |
M |
3 |
PWc |
Research #19 |
05/13/94 |
Kananaskis-648 |
M |
6 |
AC |
Research #22 |
05/28/94 |
Albert R.-B.C. |
M |
14 |
LH |
AFWS #25161 |
09/29/94 |
Fortress Mt-408 |
M |
subadult |
IL |
Research #12 |
10/04/94 |
Simpson R.-B.C. |
M |
13 |
SD |
Research #21 |
07/26/95 |
Elkford B.C. |
M |
4 |
PW |
AFWS #25722 |
08/20/95 |
Sarcee Reserve |
M |
unkn |
TI |
investigate |
fall/95 |
3 Point Cr.-406 |
? |
unkn |
? |
BNP L952104 |
09/25/95 |
Lake Louise |
F&yly |
adult |
PW |
C – 1995 |
10/12/95 |
Albert River |
F |
adult |
PW |
AFWS #34990 |
06/04/96 |
Morley |
M |
adult |
TI |
Research #44 |
08/23/96 |
Stoney Reserve |
M |
5 |
TI |
Research #28 |
08/24/96 |
Cascade River |
F |
24 |
NA |
Research #23 |
08/08/96 |
James River |
M |
5 |
PW |
Research #43 |
10/10/96 |
Grease Creek |
M |
5 |
IL |
BNP97-1567 |
fall 1996 |
Spray Lake |
? |
subadult |
? |
Research #35 |
09/20/97 |
Evan Thomas Cr. |
F |
5 |
TI |
Research #58 |
09/23/97 |
James River |
M |
9 |
PW |
BNP 1998 |
06/05/98 |
Bryant Cr. |
? |
subadult |
NA |
AFWS #36480 |
07/18/98 |
Kananaskis R |
F |
adult |
AC |
Research #53 |
10/20/98 |
Trap Cr. |
M |
4 |
IL |
AFWS # |
09/??/98 |
Pekisko Cr. |
M |
adult |
PW |
AFWS # 17883 |
09/??/99 |
Kananaskis R |
M |
subadult |
AC |
Research # 26 |
09/21/99 |
Nakiska |
F |
23 |
SD |
AFWS # 42771 |
10/28/99 |
Highwood R |
F |
subadult |
TI |
Research # 40 |
06/03/00 |
Spray R |
F |
20 |
NA |
Research # 60 |
08/17/00 |
Lake Louise |
F |
6 |
AC |
AFWS # 47901 |
09/25/00 |
Elbow R |
M |
2 |
SD |
a Registration or file number
b Wildlife Management Unit
c PW=problem wildlife, AC=accidental, LH=legal hunter, SD=self defense, NA=natural, TI=treaty Indian, IL=Illegal
There was one grizzly bear translocation out of the study area in 2000. An adult female bear was removed to the Calgary Zoo after two separate aggressive encounters near Canmore. Since 1993, there have been 7 translocations from the Bow River Watershed (Table 7).
Table 7. Summary of grizzly bear translocations in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2000.
Translocation
From To
Translocation |
||||
From To |
||||
AFWS #407801a |
09/04/93 |
Canmore-410b Owl Crk-339 |
M |
Subadult |
Research #23 |
10/21/94 |
Sundre-318 Mitsue-350 |
M |
3 |
B.C. GF75 |
09/26/95 |
Lake Louise Kinbasket L |
F |
9 & 1yly |
Research #50 |
06/17/96 |
Canmore-410 Highwood-404 |
M |
4 |
Research #16 |
07/05/96 |
Banff Calgary Zoo |
M |
8 |
AFWS |
07/29/97 |
PLPP-648 White Goat-738 |
M |
Subadult |
AFWS |
09/15/00 |
Nakiska-408 Calgary Zoo |
F |
18 |
aRegistration or file number
bWildlife Management Unit
The 34 grizzly bear deaths and removals in the Bow River Watershed between 1994 – 2000 are from a number of causes (Table 8). No one factor stands out. The diversity of mortality and removal causes means that it will continue to be challenging to maintain acceptable mortality / removal rates for subadult and adult female bears.
SCHEDULED CONCLUSION
The target of 8 years of data collection on about 25 grizzly bears per year will be met at the end of the field season in 2001. We appear to have sufficient data to complete all planned demographic and habitat analyses. An integrated final report will be published about one year after completion of field work in November 2001.
Table 8. Summary of known grizzly bear mortalities and removals by jurisdiction and activity in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993-2000.
|
Problem Wildlife |
Illegal |
Treaty Indian |
Accident |
Self D. |
Natural |
Legal H. |
Unknown |
Total |
|||
|
Agriculture |
Public Safety |
Garbage Mgmt. |
|
Hunting |
Garbage Mgmt. |
|
(while hunting) |
|
|
(suspect illegal) |
|
Alberta |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
|
|
1 |
22 |
B.C. |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
4 |
N.P. |
|
3 |
|
|
|
|
1 |
|
3 |
|
1 |
8 |
Total |
3 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
34 |
LITERATURE CITED
Gibeau, M. and S. Herrero. 1995. Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project: 1994 Progress Report. University of Calgary, AB. 26 pp.
Knight, R.R., B.M. Blanchard, and L.L. Eberhardt. 1995. Appraising status of the Yellowstone grizzly bear population by counting females with cubs-of-the-year. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 23:245-248.
Komex Intl. 1995. Atlas of the Central Rockies Ecosystem. Komex Intl., Calgary, AB.