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International Bear News Quarterly Newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) and the IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1

© Andrés E. Bracho S.

Vieu at Parke Tropikal (see page 34).

IBA website: www.bearbiology.org/www.bearbiology.com Table of Contents

Council News 3 From the President 5 Research & Conservation Grants Program — Editor’s Thank Yous — Newsletter Online 6 Part II: Ways to Donate Money to Bears 8 In Memory: Ralph Flowers 1928-2004 Bear Specialist Group 9 Sri Lanka Sloth Bear Expert Team 2004 Update 11 Bear Specialist Group Coordinating Committee 12 Workshop on the Recent Black Bear-human Conflicts in Japan 13 Tibetan Black Bear on Verge of Extinction in China 14 Do Giant Panda Nature Reserves Serve the Needs of Asiatic Black Bears? 16 Bear Trees in North Taiga Landscapes of the Ilich Basin 18 Fatal Bear Attacks on Humans in Romania Website: Slovakia Bear Facts, Myths & Media 19 Bulgaria Bear Management 21 Greece: Monitoring Project Update on the Egnatia Highway Construction 22 Monitoring the in the Italian Alps Through Non-invasive Genetic Sampling Last Female Pyrenean Brown Bear Americas 23 Sierra de Portuguesa Andean Bear Pilot Study 24 The Life History of an Extraordinary Female Barren-ground 25 Barren-ground Grizzly Bear Shot in Yellowknife, NWT 26 Central : Polar/Black Bear Projects, Black Bear-human Conflicts Southwest USA: Revising Management Strategies in , New Tidbits 27 Hibernating in Bald 28 Bear Contraception — Court Decides: No New Jersey Bear Hunt 29 Southeast USA: Nuisance Research, Florida Population Study, Black Bears Captive Bears 32 Full Circle in China 33 First Successful Sloth Bear Birth at Colombo Zoo, Sri Lanka 34 The Adventures of the “Bears of Montecristo” or How Four Old Bears Escaped from an Island 36 Idaho Black Bear Rehab Student Forum 37 Truman Student List Serve — Thunder! 38 Student Spotlight: Andreas Zedrosser, Austria Publications 39 Contents: Ursus 16(1) 2005 — Wildlife Accident Reporting System 1983-2002 Bears in Culture 40 Pihoqahiak: The Ever-wandering One Opportunities 41 Funding for Field-based Wildlife Conservationists — AZA Grants Volunteers Needed for Bear Habitat Research Events 42 18th Eastern Black Bear Workshop, Florida, USA 43 Italy 16th IBA Conference — Registration — Travel Grants 48 AZA: Professional Training, Regional Meetings, Annual Conference 49 International Wildlife Film Festival First European Congress of Conservation Biology Ninth Western Black Bear Workshop, , USA 50 Japan 17th IBA Conference 51 Mexico 18th IBA Conference IBA 52 IBA Officers & Council 53 IBA Membership Application 55 IBA Publications Order Form Back About IBA & Mission Statement International Bear News, ISSN #1064-1564, quarterly newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA). Editor: Teresa DeLorenzo, Design: Cynthia Cheney, 10907 NW Copeland St., Portland, 97229-6145, USA. Phone (503) 643-4008, Fax (503) 643-4072, Email [email protected], Website www.bearbiology.com/www.bearbiology.org. Back issues are available at www.bearbiology.com. Editorial Policy International Bear News welcomes articles about biology, conservation and management of the world’s eight bear . Submis- sions of 750-1500 words are preferred, and photos, drawings and charts are appreciated. Submissions to [email protected] are preferred, otherwise mail or fax to the address above. IBA reserves the right to accept, reject and edit submissions. Deadline for the May 2005 issue is April 15, 2005. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue. Artwork is copyrighted—do not reproduce without permission. Thank you to CityGraphics and Imaging, Portland, Oregon, USA for generously discounting the cost of printing. Membership Use the form on the page 53 to order or renew memberships, make donations, and update member information. 2 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Council News From the President

Harry Reynolds Area in the Gobi Desert of southern closely related to brown bears but it Department of and Game Mongolia. Their distribution is is presently unknown whether they 1300 College Road centered around 3 oases complexes are distinct enough to merit separate Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA in the area. Although they may have species designation or are closely Phone (907) 459-7238 persisted in this extreme environ- related to the brown bears found Fax (907) 451-9723 ment at about this population size about 200 km distant in the Tien Email [email protected] for as long as 35 , present Shan mountains of China. Pelletized [email protected] drought conditions and other factors livestock fodder has been provided to indicate that further declines may be bears during spring at 2-3 sites in an After 4 days of temperatures less imminent. effort to supplement diets because of than –40 degrees, made more frigid The people of Mongolia view the the possibility that available food by the ice fog that accompanies cold Gobi bear as a national treasure and resources limit the population. weather, it cleared yesterday and life are dedicated to bringing it back Workshop recommendations is good again. Although the tempera- from the edge of extinction. To this included six broad actions that tures are still cold, the ice fog is gone end, Minister Barsbold of the should be accomplished in the very and last night the aurora seemed to Mongolian Ministry of Nature and near future. In addition, a total of 27 cover a fourth of the sky. It shim- Environment convened a workshop specific recommendations for action mered in a vast in the sky of in Ulaanbaatar during 2-3 November were developed by workgroups for undulating light, twisting and rolling 2004 to develop strategies and (1) Population Assessment and to a distant single point far to the recommendations for conservation Monitoring; (2) Genetics and northwest. All the while, female and enhancement of the population. Demographics; and (3) Human bears across the northern hemisphere Organized under the auspices of the Dimensions. Complete International are giving birth and are nestled Ministry of Nature and Environment, Gobi Bear Conservation and Manage- within the warm micro-climate of a the United Nations Development ment Workshop Recommendations bed inside their dens. Cubs born now Program, and the Wildlife Conserva- can be viewed on the IBA website, will help determine the future tion Society, a total of 75 people http://www.bearbiology.org. capacity of population stability, participated, including ministry staff, The dedication and capabilities growth or decline. If the birth and members of the Mongolian Parlia- that Mongolian scientists and bear survival of cubs were the primary ment, Mongolian Academy of specialists bring to this effort are factors driving the status of bear Science experts, NGO staff, national invaluable. They welcomed the populations, few would face the park staff, local environmentalists, opportunity for an interchange of uncertainties of today. It is our job to and international specialists. I bear research and management devise strategies to enable those who attended along with seven other IBA/ experience and expertise from IBA, share the land with bears to be Bear Specialist Group members: Dave the Bear Specialist Group and other accepting, or better yet, be very Garshelis, Djuro Huber, Lydia Kolter, international specialists. It is just this involved in conserving, maintaining, Peter Zahler, Tom McCarthy, Evan sort of interchange that IBA works and ensuring long-term existence of Blumer and Petra Kaczensky. toward in our commitment to the viable bear populations. Maintaining Other than the fact that the world’s remaining bear populations. habitats that support bears means population is small enough so they that ecosystems will remain healthy are at high risk of extinction, most Experience and Exchange with broad components of other information necessary to save Gobi Grants Program wildlife and water resources adequate bears is not known. They appear to IBA Council adopted measures to to sustain them along with human be closely confined to the 3 oases establish a program based on a needs. This should challenge us all. complexes, but it is not known if concept first proposed as part of the there is movement between the Bear Conservation Fund prospectus. Gobi Bears complexes. No data is available to This new IBA-sponsored program is The Gobi bear is critically endan- determine what factors may be designed to help subsidize travel for gered. Available information suggest keeping the population at low levels biologists seeking to broaden their as few as 20-25 individuals exist in or to provide more than a rough understanding of bear conservation, the Great Gobi, a Strictly Protected estimate of numbers. They are increase their technical experience

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 3 Council News From the President, cont’d.

and skills, or gain on-site guidance in to benefit bear conservation. Thanks letters for membership lapses, but research design through cooperative to donors and members, we have a instead depends upon notices relationships with other biologists growing grants program to accom- included with individual newsletters. and projects elsewhere in the world. plish our goals and mission. About Traditionally, conferences held in Grants will support either bringing 97% of our income is spent to North America draw many new experienced bear specialists to help accomplish our goals and support members and many continuing train co-workers in another country, the grants program and only about members use the opportunity to pay or to bring a biologist or educator 3% is overhead. IBA has no paid for dues, but during the excellent from a country where a program is staff, and all council members, conference in San Diego, budgetary just beginning to an established officers and other contributors are shortfalls by governments and study site to gain hands-on experi- volunteers. Our membership dues organizations resulted in travel ence with techniques used for support IBA’s conservation efforts on restrictions and less than expected research, management, education behalf of bears, and to educate and turnout. Another possibility is that and conservation efforts. As one disseminate information about bears IBA hasn’t subscribed to services that recipient of an exchange put it, “The through publication of this newslet- would allow us to accept dues via value of such exchanges is immeasur- ter and our journal. electronically secure connections. able [and when] we can provide Ursus contains the scientific papers Regardless of the reason for member- support for a young researcher to that are used by biologists worldwide ship declines, we are interested in visit a well-established study site or to build upon and apply to effective members’ opinions — please contact bring a senior researcher to help bear conservation. We also depend me or any Council member. develop a program in any location, it upon page charges from those who will be a tremendous achievement.” publish in Ursus to help fund its IBA Brochure Grants will be awarded on an publication, and authors are encour- A brochure outlining the purpose, annual basis through a competitive aged to budget accordingly. An function, and programs of IBA will application process, overseen by a application can be made to the IBA soon be available in pdf form that new IBA committee, the Experience Treasurer (see page 52) for an IBA can be downloaded from the IBA and Exchange Grants Program Publication Grant to partially or fully website: www.bearbiology.com. This Committee. pay for page charges. can be printed and distributed to IBA recognizes that in some anyone who is interested in bear IBA Membership countries economics do not allow conservation and who may want to During the last two years member- those who can benefit from IBA join our organization. It was com- ship in IBA has declined and this membership to afford subscription pleted through the efforts of John trend needs to be reversed. This is dues. For those individuals, reduced Hechtel, Karen Noyce, Isaac not because we want to grow for dues can be paid, or in some cases, Goldstein, Robert Buchanan, Chris growth’s sake. No, the need for applications are granted for compli- Morgan, Joan Rog and Council conservation of bears has not mentary memberships. Many members. Take a look at it and feel decreased but is becoming more members provide gift memberships free to print copies whenever it critical in many parts of the world. to individuals or conservation might be useful. Isaac Goldstein has IBA provides the forum for the organizations, and some choose to translated a version in Spanish. exchange of information, status allow IBA to select a deserving gift Other translators are welcome. reports, and emerging more effective membership recipient. Where methodologies that is crucial to the providing an IBA membership can 16th IBA Conference future of bears. further bear conservation, we should Plans for the conference in Italy While not a large organization, all help to find a way to make that are detailed starting on page 43, and IBA is known for its dedication to happen (use page 53). show that the meeting is shaping up conservation, excellence in scientific Some of the decline in member- to be very interesting. A registration approach, quality of this newsletter ship may be a result of the dues form is on page 45. Those wishing to and our peer-reviewed journal Ursus, increase initiated in 2002 or uninten- apply for a travel grant can use the and effectiveness of community tional failure to renew. We don’t form on page 47. programs and educational material know. IBA doesn’t send reminder

4 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Council News Research and Conservation Grants Program

Frederick Dean, Chair By December 31, 2004 we received Table 1. of research and conservation proposals received for Research and Conservation 34 proposals. The funds requested the 2004-2005 review. (Note that some Grants Committee total US$169,333. Consequently, I proposals are concerned with more than 810 Ballaine Road expect that the committee will have one species.) Fairbanks, AK 99709, USA some difficult work reviewing Number of Email [email protected] proposals and making decisions. We Proposals will start the process very soon and Species for Each Species or As usual, the end deadline for hope to complete it by early March. Group proposals resulted in a flurry of However, given the nature of Helarctos malayanus 2 internet activity. This year all but everyone’s life and work, and Melursus ursinus 3 one or two submissions of proposals inevitable unforeseen circumstances, Tremarctos ornatus 6 and references went smoothly. All we can make no promises at this Ursus americanus 5 proposals and references are ac- time. Ursus arctos 14 knowledged as soon as possible after The list of countries or regions in Ursus maritimus 1 they have been received. If you ever which work is proposed includes: Ursus thibetanus 6 submit a proposal or send a Bolivia, Cambodia, Canada, China, All species 1 reference and do not receive an Ecuador, Finland, India, Indonesia, acknowledgement within a reason- Italy, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, North able time, either re-send it or America, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, inquire about it (even using a Slovakia, Spain, Sumatra, Thailand, different method of communica- USA, Ukraine, and Venezuela. Several tion). This is especially important if are represented by more than one Newsletter Online your submission was sent close to proposal. Past newsletters are posted on the the deadline. There have been a few IBA website: www.bearbiology.com. instances where transmissions have Beginning with the August 2004 not arrived. issue, the file size has been reduced to facilitate downloading.

Editor’s Thank Yous Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue, including regular correspondents: Charity Kraft-Bartoskewitz Christine Clarke Pam Coy Fred Dean Diana Doan-Crider Matthew E. Durnin Thomas Eason Suesan Euing Shaenandhoa Garcia-Rangel Jackson Gross Harry Reynolds Robin Rigg Anja Schoettler

© Sally Maughan, Idaho Black Bear Rehab, Inc. American black bear cubs at Idaho Black Bear Rehab (see page 36).

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 5 Council News Part II: Ways To Donate Money to Bears — and create savings for you and your loved ones

Bernie Peyton of the stock to IBA by establishing make significant contributions to the Ucucu Productions either a “charitable remainder institutions they care about. My 136 Parkside Drive unitrust” or a “charitable remainder advice to anyone is take control of Berkeley, CA 94705, USA annuity trust”. The first vehicle this issue. It means more than Phone 510 655-9660 provides the beneficiary (you, or having a will that designates who Email [email protected] someone else) a fixed percentage of receives your assets when you die. It the fair market value of the assets in means having long-term strategies This is the second part of a two- the trust. The actual amount would that could include any of the part article on ways you can donate vary annually according to how well vehicles mentioned above. Do not to the future of bears and the IBA. the assets performed. The annuity leave it for courts of law to decide The first part (IBN, November 2004, trust provides the beneficiary with a what happens to your assets, and try 13(4):6-7) addressed bequests and fixed income, say 5-7.5% or perhaps not to be victimized while you are retirement plans. This second part greater annual return. These fixed alive by ever-changing tax codes. includes life income gifts, and estate amounts would be paid to the Instead take advantage of opportuni- planning. Both parts are biased beneficiary for life, after which the ties by planning ahead. The extra toward taxpayers assets would be given to IBA. So let’s you save could allow you to benefit because I am not aware of how gift say you purchased $10,000 of Grizzly bears and their habitat well past your and estate planning occurs else- Scat Co. (GS) shortly after it went lifetime, and still provide enough where. I do not wish to insult non- public, and you are now 70 years old income for you and your loved ones. U.S. citizens and I apologize for this and living on a tight budget. GS only Here are some examples of creative huge oversight in advance. I hope a pays you $2,000 in annual dividends, thinking. companion article will be written by but is now worth $100,000. You somebody to give this topic a world want to sell GS and buy something Long-term Estate Planning view. Our members who are not USA that gives you more income. But you Estate planning can maximize residents, or who do not pay taxes in can’t sell GS without paying a 15% lifetime gifts. A bear researcher with the United States, can benefit from capital gains tax. Answer: transfer children inherits $300,000 from a knowing how to cultivate donors the stock to a charitable remainder parent’s estate, or has some savings. with the information in this article. annuity trust and specify that you She could keep that money and be The information presented here is want $6,000 of annual income from taxed annually on any income not exhaustive. The benefits to you it. Not only do you triple your generated from it, or she could take and IBA will vary according to your income from that stock, and avoid advantage of the lifetime exclusion particular financial circumstances. I the capital gains tax, but you are (now $1 million dollars) and give all encourage anyone who is interested entitled to a charitable contribution or a large part of it to her children in making a large gift to consult with that could be worth approximately who are taxed at a lower rate. This a tax and estate attorney about the $50,000! Sound like a multiple win- gets a lot of the money out of the options. I gratefully received com- win for you and IBA? There are some researcher’s future estate (avoids ments and examples for this article other rules that apply, but they are estate taxes), and puts it to work for from tax advisor, Philip Falzone; not too onerous. For example current the children. However the biggest Frank van Manen; Piero Genovesi; tax law prohibits anyone from potential savings happen when the Harry Reynolds; and the spring 2004 accepting annuity distributions or researcher dies. Her estate avoids newsletter of the John Harvard unitrust interest of more than 50% of paying the gift tax on any apprecia- Society. the trust’s value, and the remainder tion of her original gift to her going to charity must not be less children. A sprinkle trust is one Life Income Gifts than 10% of the initial value of the instrument that enables trustees to Is it possible to increase your property. distribute income among children income and at the same time make a with varying needs. This instrument meaningful gift to IBA? Yes. If you Being Creative also allows income to be made are a U.S. resident and own stock With planning it is possible for equitable when some children have that pays you very little in dividends people with modest means to more income than others. Later on, (say 2% or less), transfer ownership provide for their loved ones and still the children, having graduated from

6 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Council News

good universities without debt (and time when IBA will sell the prop- Income Tax Savings hopefully having high-paying jobs) erty). You are still responsible for all This is not so creative as it is a are capable of supporting themselves real estate taxes during your lifetime. fact. I placed it here because anyone and perhaps mother as well. The can remind either themselves and/or retired researcher thus feels confi- Charitable Lead Trust someone else to give to IBA the dent she can invest more of her This instrument is appropriate for portion of their income that is savings in her lifetime passion, bears those who can part with assets reduced under the recent tax relief and IBA’s future. She has the follow- during their lifetime and want to act in the United States. Federal ing statement in her will. If all of us benefit heirs or other beneficiaries income taxes in the United States are put a modest statement in our wills after they die. A donor would reduced by as much as 2-4+ % for we would make quite a difference: “I transfer assets into a lead trust whose people in the upper tax brackets. give (____dollars/euros or ____% of trustees would pay a specified sum to Your argument is “Well, you lived the residue of my estate) to the IBA over a period of time, usually 10 without it for any number of years International Association for Bear or more years. When the trust without too much pain, why not do Research and Management, a non- terminates, the remaining assets something significant with it for profit charitable organization (principal) plus any appreciation is bears?” This can be worth thousands established for the conservation of transferred to the designated benefi- of dollars a year between now and the world’s bear species through ciaries. United States citizens receive 2011 (possibly thereafter if re- science-based research, management, a reduction in their federal estate tax enacted by the U.S. Congress). and education.” equal to the estimated value of the United States residents should annual payments to IBA from the Other Ways to Donate remember that the U.S. tax laws were trust. Also the appreciation is not Do you know someone who is written to favor people who give subject to additional estate tax. This looking for a reputable organization their assets away before they die (I do is an excellent way to benefit IBA to give to? Keep in mind that people not advise anyone to give everything and shield income from estate taxes. with a lot of assets are looking for away). Most people think of estate reputable charities that will create plans as planning for what happens Short-term Financial Planning maximum services from their after you die. The example above and There are many ways one can find donation. They also consider the that of the annuity trust illustrate money over the short term for opportunity to help out as a gift they that you can leave a legacy for bears charities. Here are some ways. Plan give themselves. Tell them about IBA through strategic planning while you to make your largest gifts during the and ask them if they would like to are alive and still provide for yourself years when you have the most explore what IBA can do with their and others. Here is another example. income. If at all possible, make your partnership. Our Council (see page gift in of the year 52) and members of the Economic Retained Life Estate because it will have a longer impact Development Committee would be Can you have your cake and eat it and allow IBA to plan. If you own a glad to talk with them. too? Here is how you can donate business you can reduce taxable If you are writing a book, distrib- your house to IBA, in it (or your income in a current year by invoic- uting a movie, or an information spouse or loved ones) during your/ ing clients in the next year. The tax pamphlet, please consider asking IBA their lifetime, and get a tax deduc- savings could be used to fund one of if they would agree to receive an tion in the year you make the gift. So IBA’s excellent conservation projects. endorsement in your work. The same if you own a cabin you bought for If you receive a year-end bonus and principle applies to companies and $35,000 that is currently appraised at want to reduce income to allow tax organizations that make money from $200,000, not only could you avoid savings, ask your employer to date bear viewing, or some other resource paying capital gains tax on $165,000 the bonus check January 1. It is in bear habitat. First contact IBA’s by giving the property to IBA, but generally favorable to incur high Council before asking them if they you could lower your income taxes capital gains in years when you also would be willing to share some of by the product of your tax bracket incur offsetting losses. Look for these those profits with IBA. The public times the remainder interest in the matching losses when you want to relations value of that gesture could property (what it will be worth at the sell appreciated assets. increase a company’s bottom line.

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 7 Council News In Memory: Ralph Flowers 1928-2004

Ralph Flowers, B.d. (B.d. stands for “Bear dude”, a title he gave himself), was called the “bear man” in State, USA. People who knew him well describe him as intelligent, witty, humble and generous. A uniquely accomplished man, Ralph published three books about his bear work, was well known for his wildlife drawings and sculptures, played the piano, was a great outdoorsman and an excellent teacher who spoke Spanish fluently. He was one of the few true gentlemen I met in my life. Ralph had many good reasons to be proud about his accomplishments but first and foremost, he was proud of his . The Washington Forest Protection Association has Ralph to thank for his innovative approach to managing bear damage through the supplemental spring feeding program, which brought him international recognition. His expertise gave him travel opportunities throughout the USA but also to , Austria, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Japan. Ralph’s legacy continues today and he will be missed greatly by all. by Georg Ziegltrum Washington Forest Protection Association 724 Columbia St NW, Suite 250, Olympia, WA 98501, USA Phone (360) 705-9290 Email [email protected]

8 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Bear Specialist Group Sri Lanka Sloth Bear Expert Team 2004 Update

Shyamala Ratnayeke Dept. of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries University of Tennessee 274 Ellington Plant Sciences Building Knoxville, TN 37996, USA Phone (865) 974-0739 Email [email protected] & Rohan A. Pieris Email [email protected] & V. S. J. Pragash Email [email protected] & Charles Santiapillai Email [email protected] & Land use map of Sri Lanka showing forested extents (left) and historic range of the sloth bear (right) in the dry zone lowlands of Sri Lanka. Frank T. van Manen Email [email protected] These forests historically supported After testing questionnaires in healthy populations of sloth bear. 2003, the survey was launched in Sri Lanka, one of few biodiversity With the onset of recent peace 2004. It covered the historic range of hotspots in the world, faces huge negotiations, economic development the sloth bear in Sri Lanka, including challenges balancing the needs of is expected to accelerate and large jungles of the dry and intermediate humans and wildlife. Sloth bears extents of forested habitat cleared to zones. We used 1:50,000 land-use (Melursus ursinus) are found on the provide homes and agriculture for maps to systematically sample Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka, and returning families. The changes will forested areas in historic sloth bear are threatened throughout their range decrease existing wildlife habitat and range based on 10 x 10 km2 grid due to habitat loss and conflict with possibly increase the frequency of cells. We conducted 287 structured humans. Until recently, very little was human-sloth bear conflicts. The Sri interviews with villagers who known about the ecology of the Sri Lanka subgroup of the sloth bear regularly used forests adjacent to Lankan of sloth bear (M. u. expert team recommended that the their village. During interviews, inornatus) and its current status and island-wide distribution of sloth information on bear occurrence, and distribution remained largely speculative. bears be mapped to provide a reliable perceptions and attitudes towards This project, begun in 2002, was benchmark for assessing changes in sloth bears was gathered. designed to document the diversity sloth bear range in future decades. Among some of the main findings and ecological relationships of Sri In 2003, the project received from the survey was of Lanka’s mammalian carnivores, and support from IBA, the Swedish Large a few isolated and probably relict identify priority areas for carnivore Carnivore Center, and the Chicago populations of sloth bears. There conservation. A capture and radio- Zoological Society to continue the were no reports of nuisance behav- telemetry study to obtain basic study of the sloth bear at Wasgomuwa, ior, such as raiding crops and trash ecological information on the Sri and conduct an island-wide survey to piles. Most respondents using forests Lankan sloth bear at Wasgomuwa determine the current distribution of inhabited by bears outside national National Park was a component of the sloth bear through 2004. As we parks felt that the absence of bears this project. Sri Lanka’s largest embarked on the distribution survey, would be a blessing. This contrasted extents of contiguous forest are we decided to also document the with regions where the only bear found in the north and northeastern locations, extent, and nature of habitat existed within a national regions of the island that, until human-sloth bear conflicts. General park, where entry without a permit recently, were largely inaccessible to findings from the capture and telem- or accompanying wildlife officer is the general public because of the etry study were reported in Interna- illegal. Villagers in such areas viewed Tamil-Sinhalese ethnic conflict. tional Bear News, 13(1):11-12. sloth bears with greater tolerance, despite

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 9 Bear Specialist Group Sri Lanka Sloth Bear Expert Team 2004 Update, cont’d

recurrent aggressive encounters with bears when they entered protected areas for hunting or gathering forest products. Almost all respondents did not support protection of sloth bears. Respondents that admitted to shoot- ing sloth bears cited self-defense or fear of an imminent attack as the primary reason. Some individuals collected bear fat for its supposed ability to stimulate hair growth, but many claimed this was an old, now defunct, practice. Trade in bear parts was not cited as a reason for killing bears. Concurrent with the distribution survey, we located and interviewed 277 victims of bear attacks to determine the date, site and charac- teristics of the attack, the outcome of the episode, and nature of the Rohan Pieris documenting an account of a sloth bear attack. The victim (on right) lost his left eye, sustained a fracture to the frontal bone of the skull, and several lacerations injuries incurred. If a reported bear to shoulders, arms and legs from the attack. victim could not be located, we left a questionnaire with the victim’s family to be returned by mail. About 15% (n = 11) of such questionnaires were returned. Most victims were attacked within the last 20 years and most attacks resulted from entering forests to hunt, fell trees, tend slash- burn cultivations, or gather honey. We also obtained eyewitness ac- counts of 3 deaths resulting from bear attacks, one of which occurred in 2004, during the survey. The recent tsunami that devastated the southeastern and eastern of Sri Lanka included areas where sloth bears still occur. Forested areas on the east would have sustained extensive damage and deforestation. Because fishing settlements occur along most of the coastline, sloth bears are not commonly encountered near coastal areas, except in national parks. It is most likely that sloth bear Sloth bear team members, Rohan Pieris (right) and V. S. J. Pragash (center right), interviewing a rural inhabitant of the Vanni region in the north of Sri Lanka populations will be affected indirectly by this event, through increased pressure on forest resources due to displacement of large numbers of people.

10 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Bear Specialist Group Bear Specialist Group Coordinating Committee

Bruce McLellan Jon Swenson Gabriella Fredriksson Coordinating Committee Co-chair European Brown Bear Sun Bear Expert Team Co-chair email [email protected] Expert Team Co-chair email [email protected] email [email protected] Dave Garshelis Siew Te Wong Coordinating Committee Co-chair Lu Zhi Sun Bear Expert Team Co-chair email [email protected] Giant Panda Expert Team Chair email [email protected] email [email protected] Harry Reynolds Chris Servheen IBA Representative Shyamala Ratnayeke Trade in Bear Parts Expert Team Chair email [email protected] Sloth Bear Expert Team Co-chair email [email protected] email [email protected] Diana Doan-Crider Scott Schliebe email [email protected] K. Yoganand Polar Bear Specialist Group Sloth Bear Expert Team Co-chair email [email protected] Isaac Goldstein email [email protected] email [email protected]

John Seidensticker email [email protected]

Francisco Cuesta Andean Bear Expert Team Chair email [email protected]

Dave Garshelis Asiatic Black Bear Expert Team Co-chair email [email protected]

Rob Steinmetz Asiatic Black Bear Expert Team Co-chair email [email protected]

S. Sathyakumar South Asian Brown Bear Expert Team Chair email [email protected]

John Paczkowski North Asian Brown Bear Expert Team Chair [email protected]

Djuro Huber European Brown Bear Expert Team Co-chair email [email protected]

Sibiriakovsky Track, 2004 (see pages 16-17). International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 11 Eurasia Workshop on the Recent Black Bear-human Conflicts in Japan

Shinsuke Koike in which frequent bear-human influenced the incursions of the Tokyo University of Agriculture and conflicts had occurred in 2004 was bears into these places and conse- Technology/Japan Bear Network reported. On day two, discussion quently the number of people 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-city focused on future countermeasures, injured. The participants discussed Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan the prospects for executing the the features (such as sex, age, health Email [email protected] countermeasures, and the probable condition) of the attacked individu- challenges that the Ministry of the als and the geographic environment In 2004, there was a dramatic Environment would have to face in in which the attacks were observed. increase in injuries to humans by doing so. In many prefectures, where the bears that frequently appeared Reports on the field investigation bears made frequent appearances, outside their usual distribution area in the Toyama and Ishikawa Prefec- killing the bears was adopted as a in the Hokuriku, Kinki, and Chugoku tures, where bears made frequent countermeasure. However, Hyogo regions on Honshu Island in Japan. appearances, were discussed in Prefecture is attempting another This has led to a heightened nation- particular detail. In the report from countermeasure: bear relocation. wide interest in the issue (IBN 13(4): Ishikawa Prefecture, it was reported Relocation is an alternative to the 16-17). It is necessary to analyze the that the numbers of bears captured killing of bears, and is gradually cause for such bear behavior and find increased rapidly after September being implemented in each affected a solution to the problem, based on a (Table 1). In the report from the area. However, there are still several detailed field study, in order to Toyama Prefect, which neighbors doubts about the effectiveness of this promote coexistence between Ishikawa, the number of nuisance method. Further, local residents humans and bears, and future kills during spring-summer were strongly oppose this technique and management of the same. Therefore, equal to the annual average, but the thus it is essential to obtain their the Japan Bear Network (JBN) quickly number of nuisance kills in autumn agreement and cooperation in order organized a workshop on 11-12 was approximately 14 times the to implement this method. December 2004, at the Gifu Univer- annual average. Accordingly, the Unfortunately, there is scarcely sity in Japan, to discuss the bear number of injured people in autumn any prefecture that possesses a situation during 2004. was 10 times normal. The poor management system like Hyogo Approximately 80 participants harvests of beech (Fagus crenata) and Prefecture. In many prefectures, including bear biologists, wildlife (Quercus mongolica), which are there is an absence of any system of administrative officers from each primary contributors to the bear’s investigation to obtain basic infor- region, Ministry of Environment diet in autumn, can be considered a mation, which is essential for staff, a politician, journalists and reason for their hunting forays managing the bears. This year, JBN university students attended the outside their domain; however the has provided support funds to the workshop. Thus, I felt that the frequent occurrences of attacks on group that carried out an urgent unusual bear activity had generated humans cannot be explained by this. investigation in Toyama Prefecture, interest in many people, and a wave The location and scenarios in which and JBN is also trying to disseminate of interest had spread across people the bears appeared as well as the correct information to the mass in various fields. This thought was frequency of their appearance media. further substantiated by the presence differed from previous years’ observa- JBN is a network created in order of several mass media companies tions. It was indicated that for both to implement the various necessary during the workshop. Toyama and Ishikawa Prefectures, activities, investigations and exami- The first day of the workshop, the the proximity of the paddy fields and nations, and information exchange present situation for each prefecture towns to the forests was a factor that for the purpose of establishing a

Table 1. Number of nuisance Japanese black bears killed, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan 2004.

April May June July August Sept. Oct. Nov. Total

# Nuisance kills 16 3778308624181

12 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Eurasia Tibetan Black Bear on Verge of Extinction in China

cooperative relationship between News from China is provided by: forestry survey institute and a bears and humans in Japan. JBN acts Matthew E. Durnin wildlife expert. as a platform for information University of Berkeley Despite the being under exchange among not only the Ecosystem Science government protection, they are a specialists on bears but also special- 151 Hilgard Hall target for poachers because the bear’s ists from other fields, mass media, Berkeley, CA 94010, USA gall bladder is prized for traditional administrators, students and NGOs. Phone (510) 643-2922 Chinese medicine and its fur is The following concrete steps have Fax (510) 643-5098 coveted by merchants. been undertaken in order to circulate Email [email protected] Liu urged the local government to information that will help manage raise public awareness on the need to the situation: setting up web pages; [Reprinted from AFP, November protect the bears and improve local sharing of information through 19, 2004.] residents’ living standards so they newsletters; exchanging information Beijing — Tibetan black bears are would rely less on hunting them. by mailing lists; and, organizing on the verge of extinction in China Black bears are kept by the thou- academic meetings and educational with their population nearly halved sands in China because their bile, workshops in order to enlighten during the past decade, mainly due extracted from their gall bladders people and enlist their support for to to extract their bile for through surgically implanted activities that require nationwide medicine, state media said Friday. catheters, is considered a potent cooperation, investigations, and A recent survey conducted by the medicine. execution of research projects. forestry administration in Tibet The number of bears of all species In addition to summarizing the shows the region has just 7,031 black held for their bile in China has results of the workshop in a report, bears, down from 14,062 in 1994, soared in recent years, reaching a JBN also organized a public sympo- the Xinhua news agency said. record 9,000 in 2002, according to sium on January 29, 2005. The In some counties, not a single bear rights groups. symposium aimed at understanding was detected. The bile can fetch up to 1,000 the reasons for the frequent incur- Ten years ago, the animal, also dollars a kilogram (2.2 pounds) on sions by bears, particularly with referred to as the Asiatic black bear, traditional Chinese medicinal reference to bear behavior and the roamed one-third of Tibet. markets. environmental factors. Also, the The Asiatic black bear from Tibet countermeasures and strategies to and the Himalayas is now one of the manage the frequent appearance by most threatened of the world’s six bears into areas with human habita- endangered bear species, Xinhua tion were comprehensively explained cited zoologists saying. based on the results from the “The decline in the black bear November workshop. The sympo- population is mainly a result of sium aimed to impress upon the illegal poaching, particularly in the citizens the necessity of the scientific second half of the 20th century,” management of bear habitat and said Liu Wulin, head of the regional bear behavior, and impart the correct knowledge to people, which will shape their understanding of bears. The IBA 2006 conference in Japan (see page 50) will be a unique opportunity to foster a stronger coexistence between humans and bears, as it is being organized after a period in which many bears have been exterminated and there is a wave of public sympathy for bears.

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 13 Eurasia Do Giant Panda Nature Reserves Serve the Needs of Asiatic Black Bears?

David L. Garshelis Dept. of Natural Resources Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA Email [email protected] & William J. McShea Smithsonian Institution Front Royal, VA 22630, USA Email [email protected] & Zhu Xiaojian Peking University Beijing 100871, China Email [email protected] & J. Andrew Trent Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA Email [email protected] Location of study site: Tangjiahe Nature Reserve (shown larger than actual size), & Sichuan, China. Gong Jien Sichuan Forestry Department In March 2004 we collared our We spent most of the summer and Chengdu, Sichuan 610081, China first bear, whose winter den in fall trapping (4 months, 1,600 Email [email protected] Tangjiahe was found by a group of trapnights), but without success. Some local ex-hunters who we had hired of our traps were located at the edges China’s commendable efforts to specifically to find dens. This bear, of beeyards, which are permitted conserve giant pandas through an adult (11–13 year-old) female, was inside the reserve. However, beekeep- establishment of an interconnected denned in a rock crevice at 2,300 m ers reported few raids by bears. network of nature reserves may or elevation. Three other bears (pre- Villagers living in the buffer zone may not be effective in conserving sumed to be males) that were found outside the reserve also rarely saw sympatric Asiatic black bears. We had denned on open ledges left their den bears, and reported few incidences of hypothesized that some reserves may sites when they were approached bears in their crops during the fall. lack habitats desirable to these bears within range of the dart gun. During 2004, the only notable during some seasons, prompting A GPS collar with remote down- depredation was a bear killing three them to leave the reserve and load capabilities was fitted to the goats (note: we had used goat meat thereby be exposed to a heightened female bear. In mid-October, we as trap bait). risk of being poached. downloaded 176 locations that were To get at the issue of bear use of Our principal study design was obtained since den emergence in different habitats, both in and based on GPS-collared bears in mid-April, representing 16% of outside the reserve, we began Tangjiahe Nature Reserve, Sichuan attempted locations. During 2004, conducting sign transects in and Province, China. We had posited that this bear used an area of only 10 around Tangjiahe. Each tree within bears would travel outside the km2, and remained entirely within the 100 x 20 m transect was carefully reserve, especially during summer, the reserve. Moreover, it remained at examined for marks of bears, or because of more plentiful soft mast relatively high elevations (89% of broken branches caused by bears. in disturbed habitats with increased locations ≥1,800 m) during all seasons. Only definitive bear sign was re- light penetration, than in mature This was unexpected. Research on corded. Overall, 60% (15 of 25) of forests inside the reserve, where Asiatic black bears in similar habitats transects conducted within the logging was terminated more than in Taiwan and Japan indicated reserve had trees with bear sign, 30 years ago. significant seasonal movements and whereas sign was found on only 1 of up to 10 times larger home ranges. 14 transects outside the reserve.

14 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Eurasia

the reserve), and we know of a case in the fall of 2003 where a person was apprehended with 33 bear paws taken over a 2–3-month period from this part of Sichuan Province. We plan to continue our work on several fronts. First, we will attempt to collar more bears at den sites this winter. Second, we will conduct habitat sampling at locations of our collared bear(s) to better under- stand resource availability at high elevations. Third, we will continue to conduct interviews of villagers to learn more about bear sightings outside the reserve and poaching activities. Finally, we will collect more sign survey data. We plan to develop guidelines for the amount of effort required to Rock den of Asiatic black bear collared in detect the Tangjiahe Reserve, steep slope at 2,300 m. presence of bears in We have not yet conducted different sufficient numbers of sign surveys habitat to conclude whether bears fre- types, when quently use habitats outside the their density reserve, but we have little evidence is low. as yet in support of this hypothesis. This work Possibly some or all of the follow- was sup- ing are true: (1) habitat quality ported by within the reserve is better than we the U.S. had presumed (as evidenced by the National small home range of the collared Zoo/ bear); (2) habitat quality outside Smithsonian the reserve is poorer than we had Institute and presumed; (3) bears do use areas with grants outside the reserve, but because from the fruits there are mainly on bushes Wyoming rather than trees, sign is less Chapter of evident; and/or (4) poaching is so the Wildlife severe that bear density is low, and Society and the few individuals that do venture the IBA out of the reserve are killed. It is difficult to obtain reliable informa- tion about poaching, but we have heard from local people that hunting and trapping are still prevalent in the area (even inside Interior of rock den. International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 15 Eurasia Bear Trees in North Taiga Land- scapes of the Ilich Basin

Stanislav Puchkovskiy tarandus)) trails Udmurt State University are located Geography Faculty along the valley Universitetskaya, 1 terraces and Izhevsk, 426034, Russia. river shore. Phone 7 (3412) 52-64-00 The always Fax 7 (3412) 75-58-66 small human Email [email protected] population is & currently 0.5 Nikolay Neifeld people per 1 km2 Pechoro-Ilichsky State on the Troitzko- Biosphere Zapovednik Pechorsk district. Yaksha, 169436, The populations Komi , Russia of the PIZ and Phone 7 (8238) 9-56-99 adjacent Fax 7 (8238) 9-50-91 territories are Email [email protected] much smaller. The population In 2004 our team (Georgiy along the Ilich Bidanov, Pavel Kopisov, Valeriya increases in the Chukavina and the two authors) summer months Figure 1. Spatial distribution of bear trees, worked in the Pechoro-Ilichsky State with the arrival of fishermen, hay- Yegro-Laga Forest, 2004. Biosphere Zapovednik (PIZ). makers, tourists, etc. The Ilich River is Legend: The PIZ is located in the Troitzko- their main transport route. – bear trees – izbushka Pechorsk district of the Komi Republic. Anthropogenic pressure on the local – routes The PIZ Yegro-Laga Forest is in the north ecosystems was relatively mild as a – forest compartment number taiga subzone, along the eastern side of whole. Through the mid-20th century, – cut-through the Ilich River basin. It is the largest caribou herds traveled through the area importance in the PIZ has been the Upper Pechora tributary. The Idgid-Laga to reach reindeer moss along the Ilich Sibiriakovskiy Track , which was and Ichet-Laga are the Ilich’s major River. Due to distance and transport intended to provide a route through the tributaries in this part of the PIZ (Figure difficulties, local forests were not Ural Mountains in the 19th century. This 1). It is 92.3% forest. The primary forests extensively logged. However hunting road was not completed, but a path was are coniferous taiga dominated by fir pressure on local game animals was cut through the Yegro-Laga Forest (photo (Picea sp.), abies (Abies sibirica) and great. The beaver (Castor fiber) was page 11). This path is used by PIZ considerable cedar (Pinus sibirica), hunted aggressively through the end of inspectors, expeditions, tourists, etc. In with extensive moss cover. Large sections the 19th century. Elk, sable (Martes summer people travel on foot, in winter of secondary forest are fir dominant with zibellina), pine marten (Martes martes) they use snowmobiles. Forest surveying birch (Betula pubescens). Secondary forests and true (Lutra lutra) numbers were began in 1941. In 1978, a grid of paths 2 result from wildfires, an important very low until the beginning of the 20th x 4 km was created (Figure 1). Field element in the formation of the taiga, century. Fishing has been a long term conditions are difficult with many grid from blowdowns and logging. Secondary activity on the Ilich River. Historically paths blocked by fallen trees. forests occupied nearly 14 % in 1978, but local people preserved fish and fish oil The zapovednik was created in have markedly increased since then. which was stored in shacks (izbushka, 1930, and its current borders were The Ilich, Idgid-Laga and Ichet-Laga balagan) for protection from bears. But established in 1959. The area west of valleys have up to five terraces. On the bears often robbed the shacks. the Ilich River is not protected. these terraces are: coniferous forests, Nowadays the local brown bears visit the Field data was collected in a 218 moss and moss-herbal mixed forests, forest izbushkas and sometimes rob km2 area. We surveyed sites likely to and tall-herbage tracts. Large them. contain signs of bear activity. We (brown bear (Ursus arctos), elk The Ilich River and trails continue to focused on bear trees and animal trails. (Alces alces), caribou (Rangifer be used for transportation. Of particular We surveyed along the grid paths,

16 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Eurasia Table 1. Route lengths and linear frequency of marking (LFM) in Yegro-Laga Forest, 2004 Route Category Length (km) # Bear Trees LFM All Years 2004 All Years 2004 Anthropogenic: grid trails 171.50 93 60 5.42 3.50 Sibiriakovskiy Track 27.50 77 40 28.00 14.55 other trails 7.65 2 1 2.61 1.31 Natural borders 113.50 230 164 20.26 14.45 Woodland 15.50 0 0 0.00 0.00 All routes: 335.65 402 265 11.98 7.90 with anthropogenic trails 84.15 185 112 21.98 13.31 without anthropogenic trails 251.50 217 153 8.63 6.08

other roads and trails, and natural We worked on the Yegro-Laga Forest recorded bear trees was 1.84 in the borders. Habitat types included woods, from 16 July to 3 September 2004. Yegro-Laga Forest (1.25 in the Yaksha river and valley shores, valley terraces During this time we traveled 335.65 km Forest). Percentage of bear trees and edges. Our methods were of survey routes, including 171.5 km of marked in the current season was derived from publications of bear the forest grids, 35.15 km of other trails, 71.3% in the Yegro-Laga Forest and investigators. These methods were 113.5 km of natural borders, and 15.5 50.5% in the Yaksha Forest. Probably, modified and complemented by new km of forest route by compass. The last the difference is the result of wildfires techniques. route category was not planned but and blowdowns. Pine is dominant in For trees marked by bears, we resulted when we lost a trail and the Yaksha Forest and therefore the recorded the species of tree, fresh and continued forward using a compass. bear trees may be more short-lived. past signs of bear activity, single and This hypothesis should be multi-year marking. We recorded the verified. types of marks: scratches, bite Figure 1 shows the mapping damage, bark removal, and branch results of bear trees. The bear biting. We recorded fresh and trees are usually on natural previous years’ bear hair (from single borders of the valley landscapes: hairs to clumps), abrasions (rubbing valley terraces and shores of the signs) and dirt rubbed on trees. We Ilich, Idgid-Laga and Ichet-Laga recorded footprints, wallows, . LFM is reduced on grid trampled grass and moss. We also trails. A small portion of grid recorded others signs of bear trails have a high LFM, such as presence and activity: scats, prey the Sibiriakovskiy Track. The remains, scratches on deadfalls, etc. common attribute of them — On bear trees, we measured the the obvious anthropogenic path. tree diameter, the height of marks on The PIZ inspectors and tourists the tree, the area of removed bark travel these routes to see the (estimated in dm2). We determined natural wonders at Man’-pupu- the linear frequency of marking Figure 2. Bear selection of trees, Yegro-Laga Forest, 2004. nior and Torre-porre-is. (LFM) signified by the average The average diameter of bear number of bear trees per 10 km of survey We recorded 402 bear trees and trees (17.38 cm) markedly exceeds the route. The trees in the forest stand were described 279 trees in detail (30 average diameter of woodland trees counted along a 1 m wide route. This characteristics) and the remaining (12.49). This appears to reflect the bears’ result was compared with a frequency of trees more briefly. Of 4 areas with elk selectivity for tree size. The local bears the different species between the bear remains, 2 included signs of bear avoid marking birches (K=0.05) evidently trees for estimation of selective marking. activity. A 42.25 km route was sur- in preference for coniferous species. The K=m/l, where K is the selectivity veyed to measure forest stand species positive choice of an abies (K=3.75) and a coefficient, m is the species frequency in and determine bear marking selectiv- pine (K=3.78) is obvious (Figure 2). bear trees, and l is the species frequency ity. A species identification and Our investigations in 2004 were in the woodstand. diameter estimate was made for 9,533 supported by RFFI. We recorded the dominant plant trees. We described bear paths along 1 Next year the work will be contin- species, and the types of forest and km lengths with bear tracks. ued in other forests of the PIZ. topography near the bear trees. The bear LFM in the Yegro-Laga Forest (Table Editor’s note: Space limitations trees and trails were mapped using 1) was more than double that in the prevented including references. Microsoft Excel and MapInfo 5.5. Yaksha Forest. Density on 1 km2 of Please contact the authors.

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 17 Eurasia Fatal Bear Attacks on Humans in Romania

Robin Rigg seven people, of whom two died. A The immediate response of Brasov Slovak Wildlife Society report by the BBC (http:// Town Hall to the fatalities was to PO Box 72, L. Hradok, 033 01 news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/ declare that all the bears would Slovakia 3749604.stm) stated that, “the either be shot or caught and placed Email [email protected] animal attacked and injured five in captivity. Patrols were established Website www.slovakwildlife.org people out picking mushrooms and to try to prevent bears reaching the fell on three others in another part of garbage bins. According to For over two decades bears have the woods.” Erika Stanciu, Forest and Promberger, little else was done been feeding regularly from house- Protected Area Team Leader for the before bears stopped using the area hold garbage containers in the WWF Danube Carpathian as winter set in. People were injured Racadau district of Brasov, a city of Programme, says that the circum- by bears in other incidents elsewhere 400,000 people at the forest edge in stances preceding the attack are not in the Carpathians, but this happens the Carpathian Mountains of clear. There were unconfirmed every year in Romania without Romania. According to a report on rumors that the bear was first causing such a stir as the events in the phenomenon by Laszlo Szabo- attacked by people, who were Brasov did. The number of bear Szeley of the Aves Foundation (http:/ “playing” with it as it tried to get to attacks on humans in Slovakia /www.avestours.ro/ursusarctos/ food in a picnic area. The bear was showed an increase in 2004 com- garbage/raport.htm), the number of finally shot by hunters and appar- pared to 2003. There were also scavenger bears increased from 6-8 ently tested positive for rabies. reports of heightened bear-human individuals in the 1980s to 24 in the Promberger blames local authori- conflicts including attacks in several summer of 2003, most of them ties for the deaths because, despite other countries, including Greece, mothers with cubs or young animals. being in possession of sound man- Sweden and Japan (see IBN (13)4, Although many of the bears had agement recommendations, they had November 2004). become highly human habituated and not taken adequate measures to people often approached very closely, prevent bears coming so close to even sometimes hand-feeding them, human habitation. The CLCP (http:// there were no major human-bear www.clcp.ro) concluded that the best Website: incidents during this period. approach in Brasov would be to Slovakia Bear That all changed dramatically in make the garbage containers inacces- 2004. In early July two people were sible to bears, shoot any human Facts, Myths & Media hurt when a female, reportedly with habituated and food-conditioned two cubs, attacked them in front of individuals and scare away others Robin Rigg an apartment block at 4 am. Szabo- which only occasionally visit the Slovak Wildlife Society Szeley claims that the injured people containers. Holban noted that PO Box 72, L. Hradok, 033 01 had provoked the bear by harassing several bears had already been Slovakia it. Luminita Holban, writing in BBC relocated farther away from the [email protected] Wildlife Magazine, reported that the town. Szabo-Szeley concluded that www.slovakwildlife.org bear was caught and put in the local the best solution is simply to remove zoo. A second, much more serious garbage daily instead of letting it A new website (http:// incident, occurred in October, when decompose for weeks. He is con- www.medvede.sk) in English and a bear attacked several people in the vinced that hunting practices, Slovak has been set up to offer nearby forest during the day, killing particularly the use of bait stations, reliable information based on one person at the scene. Reports have contributed to the human scientific research on bears in differ in respect of other details. habituation and food conditioning Slovakia, comparison with the According to Christoph Promberger, of the Brasov bears. Some local situation worldwide, ways to reduce director of the Carpathian Large residents, however, like the situation or prevent problems with bears and Carnivore Project (CLCP) in Romania as it is and make money from much more. The aim is to raise from 1993 to 2003, when an ambu- tourists by selling T-shirts with people’s awareness of bears, reduce lance arrived, the bear attacked again photographs of the bears, and tidbits negative feelings and so promote and seriously wounded another to feed them.

18 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Eurasia Bulgaria Bear Management

better coexistence. The main target reports typically ended with the Margje Voeten, Director groups are the general public, conclusion that because such-and- Alertis Fund for Bear particularly pupils, teachers, young such a thing had happened, bears and Nature Conservation people and those living or working were sure to be hungry and therefore PO Box 9 in areas with bears, but also bear agitated and aggressive. Almost no 3910 AA Rhenen, The Netherlands managers, journalists and anyone modern scientific research has been Phone 0031-317 650219 interested in finding out more about done on bears in Slovakia and so Fax 0031 317 613727 European brown bears. The site there is considerable scope for such Email [email protected] includes basic facts such as what opinions to be offered without any Website www.alertis.nl bears eat, where they live and details supportive data. For example, in the & of their life cycle. Results of scientific week following major storm damage Aleksandar Dutsov research on feeding ecology and to forests in the Tatras National Park Balkani Wildlife Society livestock losses as well as a survey of on 19 November 2004, a resident 67, Tzanko Tzerkovski st., ent. V, ap.3 public opinion will be presented. claimed to have found (highly Sofia 1421, Bulgaria There is also information on how to unusually) tracks of a bear near the Phone 00359-2-9631470 use preventive measures in order to capital, Bratislava, around 300 km Email [email protected] reduce damage caused by bears as away. On national television news a Web www.balkani.org well as the risk of bear-human professor of biology and a field encounters. To make the learning ecologist each speculated that the In January 2005 Bulgaria began process more attractive and fun to bear might have fled from the storm preparations for a national manage- use, there is a quiz and a section in the Tatras and covered the dis- ment plan for the brown bear. Alertis, exploring which common beliefs tance in 5 days, despite there being Fund for Bear and Nature Conserva- about bears are really true and which several mountain ranges populated tion and the Balkani Wildlife Society are just myths. There is also a range by bears between the Tatras and have started a project which will of educational materials that can be Bratislava. In the future, a brief coordinate the activities necessary to ordered through the site. summary of such reports will be develop such a plan. Because reports on television and added to the website followed by a Europe once offered a wide range of in newspapers are often sensational- commentary that includes alterna- natural habitats for its large carnivore ized and one-sided, the website tive, more factually-based explana- species such as the brown bear (Ursus includes a section on “news and tions for the incidents reported and arctos). Today, however, relict bear comment” to give a more complete comparisons to situations in other populations are dangerously small and and accurate picture of bears. The countries. highly fragmented in Southern, Slovak media’s reporting on bears The website is being developed by Central and Eastern Europe such as in was particularly provocative in 2004. the Slovak Wildlife Society as part of Bulgaria. The current brown bear Even when bears had apparently its BEARS Project (Bear Education, population in Bulgaria is divided into been the victims, as when two Awareness and Research in Slovakia) two subpopulations. They occur in the individuals were killed by vehicles in thanks to the support of WWF and Central Balkan Mountain range and in separate incidents or when one was Alertis Fund for Bear and Nature the Rila-Rodopean massif. The latter found dead with a stomach full of Conservation. extends into the northern bear plastic, journalists emphasized the population of Greece. The Balkan potential danger from bears to the range population is completely public. Hunters were frequently isolated from the other population. shown explaining that bear-human The Rilo-Rhodopean massif consists of conflicts were the result of bears Rila mountain, Pirin Mountain, being “over-populated”. Television Rhodopi Mountain and some migra- tion apparently still occurs to the region of Vitosha Mountain through a system of small mountains. All the main ridges of the above mentioned mountains are above 2000 m altitude.

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 19 Eurasia Bulgaria Bear Management, cont’d

Their slopes are covered with such as CITES, the Bern Convention, All the different stakeholders will deciduous, mixed and coniferous and the EU habitat directive 92/43 be invited for an introductory forests. The highest parts are open EEC which, among others protect the meeting at the beginning of the alpine land with small shrubs. brown bear and its habitat. project. The most important goal of Currently, especially in the Rila- Although the legal status of the bear this meeting is to create motivation Rodopean, the population is becom- is well defined, law enforcement is still and commitment among these ing more and more fragmented a problem which leads to illegal partners for the drawing up of the because of increasing human devel- hunting practices. Other threats for management plan. Furthermore, the opment in the area. The exact the Bulgarian bear population include: working group should find consen- distribution of bears is not known. It • Habitat degradation due to timber sus on the outline and content of the is also not known how many corri- industries and firewood collection. management plan. A neutral facilita- dors between core habitats are used • Loss and fragmentation of tor will be sought to manage these by bears and where they are situated. habitat because of developing meetings. For the preparation of a Estimation of bear density is difficult infrastructure works. national management plan data is because of unreliable counting • Killing of bears by local people needed on population size, popula- methods but probably about 400-500 because of damage to apiaries, tion trends, distribution, habitat use, are in the Rila-Rodope area and orchards, field crops and livestock. In mortality causes, damage being done about 150-200 are in the Balkan addition, people gathering mush- by bears, public attitudes towards range area. It is not known if the rooms, berries etc. in the forests have bears, human impact on the bear population of bears is currently a negative attitude towards bears population, etc. Within the proposed decreasing or increasing. because of fear of attacks. project, fieldwork will focus on By order of the Ministry of • Illegal hunting for trophies and collection of data on distribution of Environment and Water, Bulgaria meat. the brown bear population (includ- declared the brown bear a protected • Since the removal of the bear ing habitat assessment) and public species in 1992. There were still some from the game species list, some attitude towards bears (including the hunting permits issued to allow regional forestry units have lost a human impact on the bear popula- hunting of so-called “bloodthirsty” significant source of income, and tion). Proposals for more fieldwork animals. These permits had to be contrary to the intentions of the law, and funding will be developed. issued by both the Ministry of are losing interest and motivation to Alertis was able to obtain funds for Agriculture and Forestry and the protect the bear. this project from the Dutch Ministry Ministry of Environment and Water • Some years ago, Carpathian of Agriculture, Nature Conservation which still made it possible to use bears were introduced into captive and Fisheries under a special grant the bear as a game target for interna- breeding populations on hunting program for countries which will tional hunting tourism. More farms. An unknown number of become members of the EU in the recently (2002) the Bulgarian offpsring were released in the wild coming years. Alertis has been long government adopted the national around the farms. This could seri- involved with in-situ conservation of Biodiversity Conservation Act which ously threaten the genetic purity of the brown bear, welfare problems changed the status of the brown bear some subpopulations. such as the dancing-bears of Bul- in Bulgaria to a totally protected The project’s main objectives are: garia, and will have the final coordi- species and the bear was removed 1. The formation of a bear working nation of the project. The fieldwork from the game species list by the group which involves all the relevant and working group meetings will be Hunting and Game Protection Act. stakeholders to discuss the contents executed by staff of Balkani Wildlife This Biodiversity Conservation Act of a national brown bear manage- Society, the Institute of Zoology from also forces the Ministry of Environ- ment plan for Bulgaria. the Bulgarian Academy of Science ment and Water to create and 2. The collection of field data and the Environmental Education enforce management plans for all relevant to develop a sound manage- and Research Centre of the Sofia Zoo. including brown ment plan, specifically data on Jon Swenson (IBA vice president for bear. Besides this, the Bulgarian distribution of the brown bear Eurasia) and Djuro Huber (IBA government has adopted interna- population, and human attitudes Council) will act as external advisors tional conventions and agreements towards bears. for the project.

20 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Eurasia Greece: Monitoring Project Update on the Egnatia Highway Construction

Yorgos Mertzanis Officially launched in February and photo cameras. Data gathered Project Coordinator 2003, this monitoring project for the from these methods were used to NGO Callisto impact assessment of the highway identify bear presence as well as bear 5, Nik. Foka st. construction on large movement patterns and spatial 54623 Thessaloniki, Greece (with emphasis on bears) is reaching behavior compared with the high- Phone +302310/252530 the end of its 2-year phase A (2003- way alignment and especially in Email [email protected] 2005). It has been conducted by 3 correlation to the location of the cooperating NGOs (Arcturos, the planned mitigation measures. As stated in the August 2003 Hellenic Ornithological Society and In total, 6 adult brown bears have newsletter (IBN 12(3):8), the imple- recently the newly founded NGO been fitted with GPS collars (4M:2F). mentation of this project is part of Callisto), and 2 universities Telemetry data have so far yielded the environmental terms and (Thessaloniki and Thessaly) compris- 3,300 locations, and 1,200 bear signs provisions of the revised EIA study ing 4 departments (ecology, genetics, have been recorded during field on a highly controversial 37 km wildlife management and forestry). surveys. The above data have been segment of the Egnatia Highway The first phase of the project had a analyzed in comparison to the (total length 680 km) crossing the total budget of about 880,400 euros highway alignment in order to northern part of the country. This and has been financed by Egnatia evaluate the effectiveness of the highway segment cuts through the Odos S.A. and the EU. planned mitigation measures. Pindos Mountain range, one of the The project area extends over In addition, in order to evaluate strongholds of the brown bear almost 1,000 km2 of a mixed forest bear population parameters such as population in Greece with a mini- and agricultural ecosystem and is sex ratio, parental relationships and mum population in the critical and located in the northwestern part of gene flow in the study area, a genetic adjacent areas estimated at approxi- Greece, in the Pindos Mountain study using DNA analysis has been mately 80 individuals. range. This area is: 43.23% forests, developed. Three key genetic loci After a Council of the State 31.11% ( lands), have been selected and identified verdict issued in 1997 directing the 19.47% agricultural lands, and 3.69% from available genetic material taken least environmentally costly human settlements. Major forest from bear specimens such as hair, alignment of this highway segment vegetation types comprise oak blood and excrement. The key (especially regarding bear popula- (Quercus sp.), black pine (Pinus nigra) genetic loci are: 1 locus on mito- tions and habitat), the contractor and beech (Fagus sp.). The area is chondrial DNA (mtDNA), 8 polymor- Egnatia Odos A.E. was ordered to characterized by a mosaic of dense phic loci on nuclear DNA, 1 locus of conduct a new EIA study for this 37 forests, openings, and small scale chromosome Y (SRY). km segment and to incorporate cultivation. Altitude ranges between DNA material from 28 bear hair additional mitigation measures 500 m and 2,200 m. Sampling and excrement samples were iso- such as: 13 tunnels (8.85 km), 11 emphasis has been given to the lated. Genotypes of 17 unknown bridges (2.64 km), 1-2 green bridges sector most directly influenced by (random) bear DNA samples were and 5–9 wildlife underpasses; the highway construction which also defined. The next step in data thereby mitigating about 31% of covers 160 km2: the length of the processing is to better identify gene the 37 km highway segment. The highway segment (37 km) and a 4 flow gradient and parental relation- total cost of these additional km wide buffer zone. ship between bears from both sides mitigation measures (apart from Over the 2-year bear monitoring of the highway alignment. the bridges which are not consid- period, field work has focused on Acknowledgments: ered to be part of the wildlife satellite telemetry combined with a Special thanks go to the field mitigation, since they are required systematic collection of bear signs of team: Y. Isaak, Alex. Karamanlidis, S. by the topography of the align- presence and activity. An additional Riegler, Ar. Riegler, K. Selinidis, Th. ment) reached about 181,000,000 monitoring protocol was developed Tragos, and the volunteers: M. de euros. All funds have been secured using thermo-sensitive, infrared and Gabriel Hernando, S. Dalrymple, and the construction of this conventional pre-programmed video M.L. Rubio Guillamon, C. Milcent. highway segment is scheduled to start in summer 2005.

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 21 Eurasia Monitoring the Brown Bear Last Female Pyrenean in the Italian Alps Brown Bear Shot Through Non-invasive Genetic Sampling

Marta De Barba, Graduate Student 650 km2: baited hair traps, sign Anja Schoettler, Graduate Student Dept. of Fish and Wildlife surveys on transects, unbaited hair Zoological Institute University of Idaho traps, opportunistic collection of University of Hamburg Moscow, ID 83844-1136, USA fecal and hair samples, and sighting. Rudolf-Breitscheid-Str. 7b Email [email protected] Collection went very well and the 22880 Wedel, Germany [email protected]. number of samples collected doubled Email [email protected] compared to the 2003 field season. We From 1999-2002, 10 Slovenian bears collected 464 hair samples from baited On November 1, 2004 the last native were translocated into western hair traps (Woods et al. 1999), using a Pyrenean female brown bear was killed. Trentino, and the brown bear popula- grid of 4 x 4 km2 cells. We identified A wild boar hunter (who could face 6 tion in the Italian Alps has increased 103 bear signs and collected 36 hair months in prison and a 90,000 euro to 15 or 16 individuals. After one samples and 34 fecal samples on 17 fine) shot Cannelle at close range in the female died and another left the study survey transects. Five hair samples Western Pyrenees (Urdos, Aspe Valley, area, 2 cubs were born in 2002 to the were collected from 12 unbaited hair France). Hunters were explicitly warned female Kirka, and 2 in 2003 to the traps in areas where bears were known about the bear and her cub, and there female Maya (one was killed by an to be present. Eighty-three hair was an agreement to discourage the hunt eagle in spring 2003). We observed two samples and 168 fecal samples were among the Mancomunidad de la very happy birth events in spring 2004 found opportunistically over the range Institución patrimonial, the Brown Bear that brought 5 more cubs into the of distribution of the bears. All bear Network and the Hunting Association. population: the female Jurka gave sighting occurrences were recorded by Before this incident the Western birth to 2 cubs and the female Daniza Trento Province. Pyrenees bear population consisted of impressed everybody with 3 cubs! The The sampling success for the 2004 3 adult males (2 native, 1 Slovenian), 1 presence of one translocated male has field season is very encouraging. In adult native female (Cannelle), and not been recently documented, addition to suggesting an increase in her probably male 10 month old cub. therefore is uncertain. bear numbers in the study area, it also The Central and Eastern Pyrenees We are using non-invasive genetic reflects a heightened awareness of the have ~11-13 bears (including 3 females), sampling, as part of an experimental importance of sample collection for all descendants of Slovenian bears. project begun in 2002, to establish a the project as well as the increasing Analysis suggests a Slovenian male sired monitoring program that provides experience and knowledge of the Cannelle’s cub. If so, there are no more demographic and reproductive personnel involved in field activities. females and native Pyrenean bears are information on this small alpine This sample will also provide very doomed to extinction. brown bear population. important baseline data for future With plentiful autumns beechnuts, Based on genetic analysis conducted non-invasive monitoring efforts for the cub might survive. Two orphaned on the hair and scat samples collected this small population. This completes cubs of the same age survived in the non-invasively in the 2003 field season, the last field season of data collection, Spanish Cantabrian Mountains when we identifed 6 translocated bears and 3 as part of the experimental project for food was abundant. To help the cub of their cubs, and recognized one of the non-invasive genetic monitoring the survive, hunting and , and perhaps translocated males as the father. We brown bear population in Western all people will be forbidden in the area, believe we detected 70% or more of the Trentino. Based on the data collected, and vegetarian food will be provided. resident population at that time. the local managers will face decisions Brown bears are endangered in Spain From May through October 2004 for future monitoring planning. and France, but others were shot we conducted the second full field We are working hard to complete recently. In 1994 a native female was season of data collection in coopera- genetic analysis of the 2004 samples shot by a wild boar hunter in the tion with the Trento Province, the and anxiously awaiting the results. Western Pyrenees. In 1997 a female with Adamello Brenta Natural Park, the Literature Cited: two cubs was killed by a hunter in the Trento Hunting Association and the Woods, J.G., Paetkau, D., Lewis, D., Central Pyrenees. Last summer >50 Italian National Wildlife Institute. As McLellan, B. N., Proctor, M., Strobeck, C. bullets were found in a male’s body (not in 2003, we evaluated different 1999. Genetic tagging of free-ranging the cause of death). techniques of non-invasive genetic black and brown bears. Wildlife Society Thank you to Fapas (www.fapas.es) sampling over a total area of about Bulletin, 27(3):616-627. for this information.

22 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Americas Sierra de Portuguesa Andean Bear Pilot Study

Shaenandhoa Garcia-Rangel cant differences were obtained between food resources, in order to draw Ph.D. Candidate vegetation cover categories (BPSvMN = conclusions on Andean bear patterns Wildlife Research Group 183 signs, BISvMB=50 signs. X2 df=4 of habitat and landscape-use. From the University of Cambridge α=0.05 pvalue=1.61x10-49), given the feeding signs found in the pilot study, Email [email protected] well-known preference of the species 245 records correspond to the Phone+44-1223-333753 for primary and montane forest. Aracaceae family and 29 to the & Variance on each vegetation cover Bromeliaceae family. Similar to the Associate Researcher category showed that other variables exploratory phase, significant differ- Fundacion para la are also modulating Andean bear ences were found between these food Defensa de la Naturaleza landscape use and distribution. items, showing what appears to be a Fundacion Andigena Five different types of signs were shift of the diet towards the former. No Email [email protected] found, all corresponding to previously fruit consumption was detected Phone +58-212-9456316 recorded indicators of Andean bear because the fruiting season had ended. presence: feeding signs (n=274), claw- During 2005, the third phase of the The pilot study for “Evaluation of the marked trees (n=28), tracks (n=16), bitten project will be developed, performing distribution, habitat selection and roots (n=3) and pruning (n=1). Trails bear-sign censuses across Sierra de landscape use of the Andean bear alone were not considered a sign, since Portuguesa. The results of this stage (Tremarctos ornatus) in Sierra de they are accounted for by other sign will be included in a GIS database to Portuguesa, Venezuelan Andes” was types found there. Feces, rubbing trees modulate the species distribution, conducted May-July 2004. This second and hairs were not found because field habitat and landscape use on the third phase of the project evaluated the work was conducted during the rainiest level of selection. Finally, for the sampling method chosen for bear-sign months. Despite intensive searches with fourth phase of the project, vegetation censuses, and training field assistants binoculars especially on claw-marked plots will be combined with bear sign Eugenio Gusman Pérez and Alfredo trees, tree were not found. The censuses to evaluate Andean bear Freitez. The only remnant primary forest canopy cover of ferns, orchids and fourth-level of selection and validate linking two of Sierra de Portuguesa’s bromeliads severely limits detection of the model produced (Van Manen pers. protected areas (Terepaima and Yacambú nests. This drawback will be considered comm., 2004). National Parks) was selected as the study during the study’s final analysis. This project is a Ph.D. thesis of the site, given the need for information on The number of signs encountered for Wildlife Research Group, University of the species use of this area, to reinforce each type of sign was similar to that Cambridge, UK. It is part of the Andes an on-going project focused on its legal from the exploratory phase. Feeding Program of Fundación para la Defensa de protection. signs represented more than 80% of the Naturaleza (FUDENA) and Andean Bear Two main vegetation cover categories bear presence recorded. Differences in Project of Fundación Andígena, Venezu- were sampled: montane evergreen this parameter are significant (X2 df= 4 ela. It is supported by the Universidad primary forest (BPSvMN) and pre- α=0.05, pvalue 7.4x10-185) and depend Simón BolÌvar, FRECOPAL, Frente montane evergreen secondary forest on a wide variety of factors. Rain and Ecológico Cubiro, Guardianes de (BISvMB). Five transects (500 km x 10 m) wind erases tracks, feces, marks on Terepaima, and funded by Fundación were placed randomly on each vegeta- rubbing trees and hairs, but has little Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho, The tion cover category for bear-sign census, effect on feeding signs, bitten roots and International Association for Bear a minimum of 800 m apart (based on an claw-marked trees. Some signs degrade Research and Management, IDEAWild, educated guess of Andean bear daily faster than others and, some are gener- The Scott Neotropical Fund of the travel). Sampling areas were divided in ated by Andean bears with a higher , Iniciativa 100 m units to record GPS location, frequency. para Especies Amenazadas (IEA)- altitude, slope, human impact and Types of signs were not evenly PROVITA, The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG vegetation. These units were subdivided distributed between vegetation types. Aquarium, and The Rufford Small Grant into 20 m segments for sign searching. Differences in the number of feeding for Nature Conservation. A total of 322 bear signs where found. signs could be an effect of differences References: From the total obtained, 232 bear signs in floristic composition between Editor’s note: space limitations were encountered on 8 of the 10 vegetation cover categories. Thus, it is prevented including references. transects sampled. As expected, signifi- necessary to compare availability of Please contact the author for details.

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 23 Americas The Life History of an Extraordinary Female Barren-ground Grizzly Bear

Robert J. Gau Diamond Mine) received final approval locations), 21,088 km2 (164 locations), Wildlife and Fisheries Division for production from the Government of and 1,269 km2 (121 locations), respec- Department of Resources, Wildlife Canada. Construction activities at tively (we only used one location/day and Economic Development Ekati™ began in earnest in 1997 and the and the 95% isopleth to measure kernel Government of the Northwest Territories mine officially opened in 1998. While home ranges via the ArcView GIS #600 5102-50th Avenue production was underway at Ekati™ in extension Animal Movement). Only 26 Yellowknife, NT, X1A 3S8, Canada 1999, the Government of Canada daily locations were extracted from the Phone (867) 920-6316 approved the nearby Diavik™ Diamond 2003 data so home range was not Fax (867) 873-0293 Mines project. Also, Ekati™ was approxi- calculated. To put this into perspective, Email [email protected] mately half finished with construction of the combined area of Connecticut and a 28 km all-weather haul road to another Rhode Island is roughly 18,360 km2. After prospectors followed a trail of of its kimberlite pipes just 10 km from We captured G608 in the accompani- diamond indicator minerals to the Lac the Diavik™ project. ment of an adult male each year de Gras area of the Northwest Territories In 2000, the two Lac de Gras diamond between 2000-2002. In 2003, at 8 years (NWT), the first diamonds were discov- mines were in production, and numer- old, I observed G608 just after den ered sparking the NWT “diamond rush” ous base-metal, gold, and other diamond emergence with 2 cubs-of-the-year on in 1991. This was the largest mineral developments existed in the region. May 16. However, at her May 19 capture staking rush in North American history However, it remained unclear what she had either lost or abandoned her and led to the discovery of dozens of impact this activity had on wildlife, cubs. As with each other capture event, diamondiferous kimberlite pipes especially grizzly bears. To help address she appeared in good physical condition containing high grades of diamonds in this shortfall I was involved with a in 2003 and it was unknown why she the central Canadian Arctic. In late 1994, program that deployed GPS radio-collars lost her cubs in the days prior to her partially in response to the advanced (Televilt/TVP Positioning AB, Lindesberg, capture. The next scheduled visual diamond exploration programs in the Sweden) on adult female grizzly bears relocation of G608 was July 14, 2003. At Lac de Gras area, a team of researchers within a 40 km area surrounding the that time I found G608’s remains cached began planning a multi-faceted research diamond mining activities. The goal was in a style typical of a grizzly bear kill (the program into the ecology of barren- to examine bear movements before, earth was churned-up in the immediate ground grizzly bears across the central during, and after road construction and area) and grizzly bear scat with grizzly Arctic. provide insight into how bears in the bear fur was present. From the hourly Sometime in early 1995 a female area responded to habitat perturbation, data pulled from her GPS collar, it grizzly bear was born in a den with two linear disturbances, and traffic. As a appeared something happened to her on male siblings near the Lac de Gras area. result of this effort, G608 was captured June 11 or 12 and the collar remained In May, one day after being introduced within the search area each year from stationary from June 13 onward. The kill to the world outside the confines of her 2000 through 2003. However, incidental site was heavily willowed with a stream mother’s den, I captured all 4 bears. The to the primary research objectives, I running through the middle feeding a little female cub was tagged G608 and obtained data on some large-scale small . The only thing left of her her mother was fitted with a satellite/ movements for G608. carcass were small bones and many tufts VHF radio collar. The GPS collar in 2000 was deployed of fur. A piece of femur I found looked to Over 1995 and 1996 I learned G608’s June 5 and automatically released have a healthy amount of marrow in it. mother, captured at 19 years of age, was October 10. In 2001, collar deployment The collar was found about 20 m from the matriarch of the area as her home was May 25 and G608 entered her den the kill site, and a debris field of fur and range encompassed at least 4 other for the last time that season on Novem- partial bones surrounded a 10 m area known females. G608 continued to grow ber 4. She came out of her den May 10, around the kill site. A pile of recently from her initial 6 kg weight and she 2002, and her collar automatically cleaned caribou bones were found also quickly developed while she vigorously released October 7. In 2003, the final within 30 m of the G608’s kill site. I can interacted with her male siblings. In collar deployment was on May 19. only speculate that she may have been September 1996 I removed the collar We recovered 9,086 locations for killed while defending her caribou kill from G608’s mother. G608 between 2000 and 2003 for against a larger bear, or perhaps she In late 1996, the diamond project analyses. Home range estimates for 2000, attempted and failed to usurp another north of Lac de Gras (the Ekati™ 2001, and 2002 were 20,364 km2 (128 bear’s kill.

24 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Americas Barren-ground Grizzly Bear Shot in Yellowknife, NWT

Subadult male grizzly bear (3-5 years Dean Cluff to their winter range. In early of age) movements have been noted to Resources, Wildlife and November, sightings of large bear exhibit periods of long-range (>200 km) Economic Development tracks were first reported 70 km east linear directional forays (see Gau et al. North Slave Region of Yellowknife on the Ingraham Trail 2004). However of the 229 barren- Government of the but it was uncertain then if the ground grizzlies the Government of the Northwest Territories tracks were from a grizzly bear or a NWT has handled since 1988, G608 has Yellowknife, NT X1A 2P9, Canada large American black bear. However, been the only female known to exhibit Email [email protected] on 7 November, sightings of a brown extraordinary periods of linear long- colored bear with a hump were range movement patterns. In 2000, A 220-kg male barren-ground reported along the Trail but now G608 went on a 1,792 km round-trip grizzly bear was killed in Yellowknife about 50 km east of Yellowknife. No trek between June 20 and October 10 to on 18 November 2004. This was the other sightings of bears have been an area 240 km to the east of her original first recorded occurrence of a grizzly reported since this grizzly bear was capture and back again. In 2001, she bear near the city (population shot in Yellowknife. Consequently, it went on a 1,541 km circular round-trip 18,000) and was unusual for a is likely that these sightings were of trek between July 1 and September 30 sighting this far (170 km) from the this bear as it moved towards the city moving 160 km to the north then . Indeed, an 85 year-old Dene while searching for food. clockwise to an area 200 km to the elder from the nearby community of Barren-ground grizzly bears do southeast until she returned to her Detah does not recall ever hearing of occupy a narrow band south of the original capture area. To put this into a grizzly bear in the area.The bear tree-line but sightings farther south perspective, again, a trip from San was shot by wildlife officers pursuing are rare. Grizzly bears have been seen Diego to San Francisco and back to San the animal at the outskirts of the regularly in the community of Diego is roughly 1,615 km. Finally in city. The bear was sighted the Wekweti about 30 km from the 2002, G608 went on a 150 km trek previous night near Detah and again tundra. Other sightings of grizzly between July 14 and July 22 to an area the following morning when the bears within the boreal forest include 56 km to the north. bear then crossed the ice of the Fort Reliance area and the now The annual ranges of adult and Yellowknife Bay of Great Slave Lake closed Colomac mine site, about 25 subadult barren-ground grizzly bears in towards Yellowknife. Wildlife and 70 km respectively from the the central Canadian Arctic remain the officers then intercepted its tracks tundra. On 24 May 2003, Rob Gau largest ranges reported for grizzlies in along the city’s lakeshore. When and I observed grizzly bear tracks at North America (see Table 1, McLoughlin encountered, the bear charged the an unoccupied mining camp at the et al. 1999). However, the unique feature officers from about 10 m, which led headwaters of the McCrea River, 45 of G608’s movements was their occa- to its shooting. km south of the tree-line. In June sional linear directionality, a trait shared A necropsy of the bear revealed 1997, a young male barren-ground with subadult males in the region, albeit about 1 cm of back fat and insuffi- grizzly bear was shot near Gameti, the magnitude of G608’s movements in cient to take it through the winter. about 185 km from the tundra. 2000 and 2001 eclipse those of any other Cysts, possibly from pneumonia, Although the Gameti and bear ever collared in the region. were discovered on the lungs and Yellowknife incidences represent the Literature Cited: several porcupine quills observed on farthest reported distances of barren- Gau, R.J., McLoughlin, P.D., Case, one of its legs and the side of his face ground grizzly bears within the R., Cluff, H.D., Mulders, R., and had become infected. Tooth wear was boreal forest, they are consistent Messier, F. 2004. Movements of heavy and a small pre-molar was with these bears following the subadult male grizzly bears, Ursus extracted for subsequent aging by Bathurst caribou herd to winter arctos, in the central Canadian Arctic. cementum analysis. ranges in late fall. Canadian Field-Naturalist 118:in press. The grizzly bear presumably McLoughlin, P.D., Case, R.L., Gau, followed the migratory barren- R.J., Ferguson, S., and Messier, F. 1999. ground caribou south beyond the Annual and seasonal movement tree-line as caribou made their way patterns of barren-ground grizzly bears in the central Northwest Territories. Ursus 11:79-86. International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 25 Americas Central Canada

Central USA and Canada news useful to monitor changes in envi- Manitoba Conservation (MC) provided by: ronmental stress in polar bears and currently spends over 4,500 hours Pam Coy other bear species. Jason is super- and $125,000 each year responding Minnesota Dept. of Natural Re- vised by Dr. Matt Vijayan of the to bear complaints. Since 1995, MC sources University of Waterloo. has averaged 1,460 complaints a year Forest Wildlife Populations and American Black Bear Projects (range 700-2,200), relocated around Research Group Two projects that have been a 200 bears and lethally removed 110 1201 East Highway 2 major research emphasis for the past animals. The public destroys at least Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA several years are wrapping up. Master an equal number of bears. Thirty- Phone (218) 327-4159 of Science student Melissa Coady of three percent of the complaints are Fax (218) 327-4181 Trent University intends to submit incidental sightings requiring no Email [email protected] her thesis “Habitat use by American action. Manitoba Agriculture, Food black bears of an isolated population and Rural Initiatives spends another Ontario on the Bruce Peninsula, Ontario” by $118,000 to $429,000 a year in Information provided by March 2005, and Karen Mills, compensation claims for bear Martyn Obbard another M.Sc. student at Trent damage to agricultural produce. Email [email protected] University, also intends to submit South Hudson Bay her thesis “Genetic analysis of the Polar Bear Projects black bear in Ontario” by March We completed the second year of a 2005. Southwest USA 3-year mark-recapture inventory in fall 2004. This work is funded by Manitoba Southwest USA news provided by: several partners and is being con- Black Bear-human Conflicts Charity Kraft-Bartoskewitz ducted concurrently with a 3-year Information provided by Texas A&M University-Kingsville mark-recapture inventory of the Hank Hristienko Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Inst. Western Hudson Bay population Email [email protected] 700 University Blvd., MSC 218 carried out by Nick Lunn and Ian In 2002, Manitoba introduced a Kingsville, TX 78363, USA Stirling of the Canadian Wildlife standardized system for reporting Email [email protected] Service. So, we are jointly handling American black bear/human con- polar bears all the way from north of flicts. Recreational areas (developed/ Revising Management Churchill, Manitoba to the shores of built-up areas that may have semi- Strategies in Arizona James Bay in Ontario — over 1,100 permanent and/or seasonal resi- Stan Cunningham km of coastline plus the associated dences, hospitality industry, camp- Research Branch inland areas. We hope to have new grounds or day-use facilities) have Arizona Game and Fish Department population estimates for both been identified as the primary 2221 W. Greenway Rd. populations available by 2006. locations (42%) for nuisance activity. Phoenix, Arizona 85023, USA In October 2004, Master of Science This compares to 33% in residential Phone (602) 789-3661 student Ashleigh Crompton of Trent areas (permanent residences in Email [email protected] University, Peterborough, Ontario towns, cities, or acreages) and 25% in Recently, the Arizona Game and successfully defended her thesis: “A agricultural or remote/undeveloped Fish Department completed an in- genetic assignment of the population locations. Within recreational areas, depth review process of the manage- structure of polar bears (Ursus garbage contributes 38% to the ment and research needs for all maritimus) in the greater Hudson Bay problem, while feeders account carnivore species. With respect to ecosystem.” for a sizable 36% and bears feeding American black bears, the current Master of Science student Jason on acorns and natural or planted harvest system in which the number Hamilton of the University of fruit trees accounts for another 23%. of females killed in a geographic area Waterloo started his research in The remaining 3% is comprised of limits hunting opportunities appears September 2004. Jason is assessing barbecues, gardens, composting and to be providing a sufficient amount physiological indicators of chronic pet food. stress in polar bears that might be

26 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Americas American Black Bear Hibernating in Bald Eagle Nest

of recreation while maintaining, if not increasing, population densities. The department hopes to start modeling bear populations based on blocks of similar habitat, rather than the state as a whole. Research needs and priorities included 1) determin- ing the impact of forest restoration (thinning) on black bear habitat quality and populations, 2) analyzing a cost efficient survey system based on vegetation types rather than specific game management units, 3) using GIS to better estimate and identify black bear habitat, and 4) testing of translocation procedures for nuisance bears.

New Mexico Tidbits Rick Winslow Large Carnivore Biologist

© Russ Smith New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish American black bear denning in bald eagle nest. PO Box 25112 Santa Fe, New Mexico87504, USA Margaret Ludwig Heino well-used snowmobile trail 300 yards Phone (505) 268-6347 Black Bear Research Project from a resort. We estimated the bear Email [email protected] University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to weigh 175-200 lbs. While there, it In 2004 the zone management 41853 Co. Hwy. E was noted that an adult bald eagle system for the harvest of American Mason, Wisconsin 54856, USA was perched approximately 25 feet black bears was initiated. The overall Phone (715) 278-3365 away, viewing the nest. Two other harvest numbers were fairly small adult bald were nearby. Soon with only 2 of 6 zones reaching their Russ Smith and Jennifer afterwards the news of a black bear limits fairly late in the season. Ehrlichman, Hayward, Wisconsin, denning in an eagle’s nest spread Overall the new system appears to USA, observed an American black rapidly and the site was heavily have worked smoothly. Because of bear hibernating in a bald eagle’s visited by the public and the media. I excellent mast crops statewide the nest on 1 January 2004, at which kept in contact with Smith and bears were not concentrated on mast time Smith video-taped and photo- Ehrlichman and was advised by sources during the fall hunting graphed the bear in the nest-den. Ehrlichman on 28 March 2004 that seasons and the harvest was light. Smith took me, along with Jerry sometime after dark the evening of With the moisture we are receiving Heino and Bruce Prentice, to the site 27 March 2004, the bear left the nest, this winter it looks like some of the (located adjacent to the Chippewa leaving half of the nest on the effects of the drought appear to be Flowage, Town of Hunter, Sawyer ground. Smith followed the tracks a receding. There were very few County, Wisconsin) on 3 March 2004 short distance and it appeared the complaints about nuisance bears in to document the observation. Until bear suffered no injury. This was the comparison to the last five years. then, Smith and Ehrlichman kept the first observation, to my knowledge, information about the eagle’s nest- of a black bear hibernating in an den quiet. The eagle’s nest was in an eagle’s nest in Wisconsin during aspen, 45 feet high, adjacent to a almost 20 years of black bear re- search conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in Wisconsin.

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 27 Americas New Jersey Bear Contraception

[Reprinted from Star-Ledger October that when PZP is injected into some Court ruled that Campbell over- 8, 2004, by Brian T. Murray, used by mammals, their bodies naturally stepped his authority when he permission.] treat it as a foreign invader, creating refused to issue permits, and it antibodies that attach to females’ ordered the department to begin American black bears at the Six eggs and act like armor. Sperm entry processing hunting licenses. More Flags Wild Safari in Jackson will be is blocked. than 3,700 permits had been issued guinea pigs for two birth control Past tests with , horses and by yesterday afternoon. experiments as New Jersey authori- elephants have been successful. The Campbell said he was pleased with ties explore methods beyond hunt- drug also worked on 25 captive bears yesterday’s Supreme Court’s ruling ing to reduce the booming bruin at the Bear Country USA wildlife and said he would work with the population (see next article). park in , although a Fish and Game Council to prepare a Department of Environmental lack of strict monitoring in that 2001 bear policy. Protection Commissioner Bradley study caused some biologists to Anthony Cali, one of the hunters Campbell said that some of the tests question the results. involved in the lawsuit against the are to begin October 19, 2004. state, said he was disappointed by The first experiment will be yesterday’s ruling and believed that conducted as state officials continue politics won out over science in the sparring over whether to launch Court Decides: No court’s decision. another bear hunt this year follow- “We assumed the law would be on ing last year’s in which 328 bruins New Jersey Bear Hunt our side,” Cali said, “but it looks like were shot. politics ruled, and it’s disappointing The Humane Society of the United [Reprinted from The Times, because there are a lot of hunters, States, one of the nation’s largest December 3, 2004, by John Holl.] myself included, who put a lot of animal rights groups, will spearhead time into preparing for the hunt and the first experiment at the Jackson Two weeks after a lower court ordered will now have to wait another year, animal park. October 19-21, veteri- the New Jersey Department of Environ- or longer, to try our luck. But the narians will inject several female mental Protection to issue permits for a commissioner wanted to stop the bears with PZP an organic serum bear hunt to begin Monday, the New hunt, and he did.” once tested on bears at a South Jersey Supreme Court struck down the W. Scott Ellis, chair of the Fish and Dakota zoo. decision yesterday, effectively canceling Game Council, said he blames The second test, which has no set what would have been the state’s second Campbell for canceling the hunt, startup date, involves male bears and American black bear hunt in 2 years. saying it was he who “decided to not a more controversial chemical Earlier this year, the state’s Fish act on the advice of the council to castration agent, Neutersol, which and Game Council, whose members control the population and instead has only been federally approved for are appointed by the governor, voted decided to play politics. If there is any use on domestic dogs. Vineland to hold a 6-day hunt beginning damage or injury caused by black bears veterinarian Gordon Stull, a member December 6, 2004. But Bradley M. in the state, Mr. Campbell is the sole of the Association of Veterinarians for Campbell, the department commis- person who should shoulder the Animal Rights, is leading that project. sioner, ordered his agency’s Division responsibility, because he is the reason “This is a long-term project, as far of Fish and Wildlife not to grant bear bears will be around,” as PZP and the Humane Society is hunting permits and closed all Campbell, who supported last involved. Nothing is going to be department land to bear hunting. year’s hunt, in which 328 bears were known for a while. Bears’ reproduc- In its unanimous order yesterday, killed, said the state would rely on tive systems are very complicated,” the Supreme Court said that in light public awareness and experimental said Allen Rutberg, humane society of the dispute between Campbell and contraceptive programs to control researcher and clinical assistant the council, no hunt could take place the bear population (see previous professor at the Tufts University until the state adopts a comprehen- article), which he said is around School of Veterinary Medicine. sive bear management policy. 1,600. Several independent studies PZP involves tissue harvested from Two weeks ago, the Appellate have estimated the number at closer dead pigs. Previous tests have shown Division of New Jersey Superior to 3,200.

28 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Americas Southeast USA

Southeast USA news provided by: Florida Population Study Central Georgia Thomas Eason, Chief Black Bear Population: Bureau of Wildlife Submitted by Dave Maehr Habitat and Population Diversity and Conservation Researchers at the University of Modeling and Florida Fish and Wildlife Kentucky (Wade Ulrey, Joe Guthrie, Behavioral Ecology Conservation Commission and Dave Maehr) have captured 22 Bryant Building, 620 S. Meridian Street American black bears since May 2004 Kacy Cook Tallahasse, FL 32399-1600, USA in Highlands County, Florida as part M.S. Graduate Research Assistant Phone (850) 413-7379 of a feasibility study of this small Email klc6002@.forestry.uga.edu Fax (850) 921-1847 population. The habitat available to & Email [email protected] these bears is fragmented by roads, Jamie Skvarla agriculture, and human activity. The Ph.D. Graduate Research Assistant Florida Nuisance Research data from the 20 bears instrumented Email [email protected] thus far suggest the existence of 3 Warnell School of Forest Resources By Stephanie Simek areas of concentration — principally University of Georgia The University of Florida and the large patches of forest associated Athens, GA 30602, USA Florida Fish and Wildlife Conserva- with protected conservation lands Phone (706) 542-5260 tion Commission (FWC) are cooper- and large cattle ranches. GPS collars & ating on research designed to have been deployed on about half of Scott McDonald determine movement patterns and the sample to provide details on Email [email protected] fates of relocated nuisance American movements between forest patches, & black bears in central Florida. This and behavior near highways and Jeff Bewsher study seeks to assess the ability to other human infrastructure. In Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources predict the potential success rate of addition to the University of Ken- Wildlife Resources Division relocated individual bears, based on tucky, the project has received 1014 Martin Luther King Blvd. sex, age, density of existing popula- support from the Disney Wildlife Fort Valley, GA 31030, USA tions, and distance of relocation. Conservation Fund, the Florida Fish Phone (478) 825-6354 Graduate student, Kim Annis, and Wildlife Conservation Commis- & directed by Mel Sunquist has radio- sion, Archbold Biological Station, Michael J. Conroy instrumented 13 bears (9M,4F) from and several key land owners in the Georgia Fish and Wildlife central and southern Florida that area. Although previous research by Cooperative Research Unit were captured by FWC as a result of Jeremy Dixon (University of Florida) Warnell School of Forest Resources nuisance activity and relocated to revealed that the population has University of Georgia Ocala National Forest. One bear has reduced genetic variability, the sex Athens, GA 30602, USA been euthanized as a result of repeat and ages of study animals suggest Phone (706) 542-1167 nuisance behavior and 8 are cur- healthy demographics. Email [email protected] rently being monitored. This study will provide FWC with recommenda- The central Georgia American tions that will aid FWC in its efforts black bear population (CGP) (Ursus to manage bears in a increasingly americanus) is one of three distinct human-dominated landscape. populations in Georgia and is classified as a game species, with a one-day hunting season. The CGP range is likely isolated from the northern and southern populations. It borders Macon, Georgia to the south and east over approximately 1,200 km2 of loblolly pine planta- tions interspersed with bottomland

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 29 Americas Southeast USA, cont’d.

Central Georgia Table 1. Annual and seasonal home ranges sizes (km2) for American black bears Black Bear Population, in central Georgia, USA, from May 2003 to August 2004. Estimates are based on a cont’d. 95% fixed kernel. Annual Spring Summer Fall Winter and patchy upland hardwood forests, and agriculture. It runs along the Females (n) 11.2 (7) 7.5 (8) 7.1 (8) 14.7 (9) Ocmulgee River swamp and extends SE 5.1 5.7 2.7 11.7 Males (n) 193.8 (9) 40.7 (11) 49.8 (13) 89.9 (10) 35.0 (10) east toward the Oconee River, SE 58.7 22.4 11.2 26.1 20 bordered to the south by agriculture. The Oaky Woods and and 219 lbs Ocmulgee (n=31, SE=23) Wildlife for males. Manage- Mean age for ment Areas 2003 captures (WMAs) was 8 yrs. comprising (n=10, SE = 48,000 1.2) for acres of females and 5 mostly yrs. (n=18, private SE=0.5) for pine males. planta- Habitat tions, offer Modeling & the only Behavioral uplands Ecology that are Data were uninhab- collected by ited by telemetry on people. 9 females (2 Recently with cubs of

almost © B. Sargent the year) and 35,000 American black bear. 14 males acres of these WMAs were sold for modeling and behavioral ecology trapped in 2003, collared with VHF timber management, housing and was completed May 2003-August and 4 GPS collars (Advanced Telem- other potential development. Due to 2004. Jamie Skvarla is working on etry Systems, Izanti, MN, USA). Two the private and diverse nature of her Ph.D. research concerning GPS collars would not remote-release land tenure, population and habitat population modeling. and were not recovered. A total of modeling are paramount to CGP The Georgia DNR trapped bears 3,023 locations were made over the management. using Fremont foot snares April- 24 diel cycle, averaging 3 locations The CGP research project has been August of 2003 and 2004. Trapping per bear per week. ongoing since May 2003. It is a 4- within the WMAs in 2003 resulted in Habitat Modeling: Our goals year effort between the Georgia 1,413 trap days and the capture of 29 regarding habitat modeling are to Department of Natural Resources adult bears (M19, F10, 1 cub, 1 construct and validate hierarchical (DNR) and the University of Georgia juvenile ). There were 2 recaptures models based on location and home to study behavioral and population (M1, F1) and 2 trap mortalities. In range habitat, and to incorporate ecology, and to model habitat for 2004, 19 new bears (13M, 6F) were sources of uncertainty in models land use planning and habitat captured with 7 recaptures (4M, 3F) based on presence only data. We management. Field work for Kacy and 1 trap mortality. Average weight incorporated telemetry error in Cook’s Master’s thesis on habitat was 129 lbs (n=16, SE=9) for females locations and are constructing

30 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Americas

models using MCMC techniques. We of persimmon. Fall home ranges were samples. Eight microsatellite markers used telemetry error (sd=12.2 deg.) in almost twice as large as spring and previously developed by Paetkau and a SAS program to generate 200 summer ranges (Table 1). Male Strobeck (1994) and Paetkau et al. normal, random points per location. winter ranges were small due to (1995) will be used for individual We used these point sets to estimate apparent temporary denning. identification. DNA from blood habitat use in a GIS using ArcView Females denned 1-4 months, enter- samples from 5 radio-collared 3.2 (ESRI 1998, Kenow et al. 2001). ing December 21-February 20 and individuals has been extracted to: 1) The 1998 Georgia GAP map (Kramer emerging by May 6. determine if the genetic markers are et al. 2003) was updated with 2001 Population Modeling satisfactory for this population, 2) satellite images to derive habitat The objectives of this component develop a protocol for PCR, 3) variables. of the study are to estimate popula- validate genetic sequences between Behavioral Ecology: Home range tion parameters (abundance, sur- hair and blood samples. sizes were estimated with a 95% vival, movement and reproduction), fixed kernel using the Animal construct models for predicting Literature Cited Movement Extension (Hooge 1999). viability, and to assess impacts of Anderson, D.R., Burnham, K.P., Male average annual home ranges alternative harvest, habitat manage- White, G.C., and Otis, D.L. 1983. were almost 20 times larger than ment policies, and increased devel- Density estimation of small-mammal female ranges (Table 1). Male sample opment in the area. Current efforts populations using a trapping web size was reduced because those above include estimating abundance using and distance sampling methods. 250 lbs. tended to drop collars mark-recapture markers (physical Ecology 64:674-680. earlier, a phenomenon reported in captures, camera “trapping”, and ESRI. 1998. ArcView 3.2. Environ- other studies (M. Vaughan pers. genetic markers). Trapping web mental Systems Research Institute, comm.). However, we were able to designs (Anderson et al. 1983) are Inc., Redlands California, USA. track all but one bear over 250 lb. for used to place hair snares and digital Hooge, P.N., W. Eichenlaub, and E. 4 months or more and found that cameras on the WMAs for collection Solomon. 1999. The animal movement annual home ranges of older, heavier of hair and photographs. Trapping program. USGS, Alaska Biological males, were markedly larger (up to webs are monitored for radio- Science Center. 575 km2), a trend also observed for collared bears for detection probabil- Kenow, K.P., R.G. Wright, M.D. females. Home ranges followed the ity estimates. Samuel, and P.W. Rasmussen. 2001. forested Ocmulgee River. Some males A 1-month pilot study (fall 2003) Integrating SAS and GIS Software to traversed 70 km along the river and was conducted on one web to Improve Habitat-Use Estimates From heavily forested tributaries. Five establish protocols for hair snares Radiotelemetry Data. Wildlife Society males made movements to agricul- and camera traps and yielded 134 Bulletin 29, no. 3:1006-1009. tural areas in late fall. Females hair samples. One sampling season Kramer, E.A., M.J. Conroy, M.J. shifted activity centers and seemed (end of May-December 2004) Elliott, W. Bumback, and E. Ander- to cross highways more during fall. resulted in 796 hair samples over 9 son. 2003. The Georgia Gap Analysis Seasonal home range estimates were trapping webs in the WMAs. Hair Project: Final Report. Athens, GA, based on at least 15 locations; samples do not directly correlate to University of Georgia Institute of seasons were determined from bear individual bears and likely will Ecology. scat analysis. Spring was from den include recaptures. DNA analysis is Paetkau, D. and C. Strobeck. 1994. emergence (females), or April 1 pending. Digital pictures and Microsatellite analysis of genetic (males), to June 15, when blackberry telemetry data from trapping webs variation in black bear populations. and plums were dominant in scat. are currently being analyzed to Molecular Ecology 3: 489-495. Summer was June 16-August 30, estimate detectability. Paetkau, D., W. Calvert, I. Stirling, when greenbrier, pokeweed and We are analyzing DNA samples at and C. Strobeck. 1995. Microsatellite muscadine grapes were additionally the University of Georgia. DNA from analysis of population structure in detected in scat. Fall was September 1 hair of 15 radio-collared bears out of Canadian polar bears. Molecular to den entrance (females), or Decem- 48 known bears has been extracted, Ecology 4:347-354. ber 31 (males), when acorns were and yields are comparable to other available and scat consisted mostly mark-recapture studies with hair

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 31 Captive Bears Full Circle in China

Susan Euing months due Email [email protected] to the SARS epidemic in During my 21 year career as a China). zookeeper in San Diego, I cared for In San many animals. Occasionally, after Diego, we some of my charges were moved to prepared other locations, I have been able to Hua Mei for visit them. the ship- Last September, as I was leading a ment by tour through China, one of my stops training her was the the home of the giant to enter her

Photo Courtesy Susan Euing pandas, Wolong Nature Reserve, shipping Susan Euing with Hua Mei at Wolong Nature Reserve, China. northwest of Chengdu, in Sichuan crate, Province. They have well over 60 feeding her in the crate and encour- not known for certain if she was pandas, including 7 yearlings, and 6 aging her to spend increasing pregnant. That was until September neonates from 2004. There was one amounts of time in it. The objective 1, 2004, when Hua Mei gave birth to female adult I was ecstatic to visit was for her to be very comfortable 2 healthy male cubs. because I helped raise her in San with the crate, allowing us to close The Chinese staff, many of whom Diego, and she and I had a very close the door and move her around in the I have known through the years of rapport. Hua Mei is first U.S.-born crate without fear or stress. We also working with the giant pandas, panda to survive to adulthood. As slowly shifted her diet to what the allowed me to visit her on September required by the zoo’s contract with Chinese feed their pandas in 10, and to see the cubs, both of the Chinese Government, the San Wolong. Both processes occurred whom were in incubators and being Diego Zoo was given 2 adult giant over a month’s time to ease Hua Mei hand-fed. Apparently, Hua Mei — pandas for a period of 12 years, and into the changes. She adjusted very being a first-time mother — didn’t any offspring were to be sent to well, and was shipped to Wolong on quite know how to hold her off- China when they reached 3 years of February 11, 2004 without incident spring in the proper nursing posi- age. Hua Mei was sent to Wolong in or trauma. tion. After the cubs were fattened February 2004 at the age of 4.5 years I arrived in Wolong a few days over several days, the Chinese (her shipment was delayed by 18 before my tour began so that I could keepers began returning 1 cub at a have a time to Hua Mei, and placing the cub personal on her nipple. Gradually she learned visit with to care for the cubs and is now Hua Mei. raising each cub half of the time. The Each cub is being alternately hand- Chinese fed and mother-fed. It is typical for a had giant panda female to give birth to introduced twins, select one to raise and reject Hua Mei to the other. The Chinese have found a male that they are able to trade cubs with during last the female, and she then cares for spring’s both of them in this manner. breeding I was thrilled to see the panda cub season. that I had known and watched grow They up in San Diego having her own mated cubs. For me as a keeper, it all came naturally, together, full circle. but it was

Photo Courtesy Susan Euing One of Hua Mei’s two cubs in an incubator. 32 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Captive Bears First Successful Sloth Bear Birth at Colombo Zoo, Sri Lanka

Rohan A. Pieris weeks before giving birth, at which In mid-July, zoo staff noted the Young Zoologists Association time they should be isolated from prospective mother was eating less Email [email protected] other bears and the public. Thomas and moved her out of an enclosure & Spady at the San Diego Zoo, USA also shared with several other sloth bears. K.D. Chaminda, Bear Keeper recommended isolating the female, With the limited facilities at the zoo, Colombo Zoo, Sri Lanka and keeping the enclosure as free as they were only able to provide the & possible from the stimuli of other female a 10 x 10 ft enclosure, Shyamala Ratnayeke bears and humans. connected to an 8 x 7 ft chamber Dept. Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries about 5 m from the main sloth bear University of Tennessee exhibit. All Knoxville, TN 37876, USA openings to the Email [email protected] exterior were shielded with The Colombo Zoo in Sri dark tarpaulins to Lanka had the first success- hide the bear ful birth of 2 sloth bear from public view. cubs, born on August 11, Roughly 2 weeks 2003. Previous sloth bear later, the female births were unsuccessful, gave birth to 2 possibly because parturi- cubs. The cubs tion times were unantici- opened their eyes pated, and the pregnant for the first time female was not isolated on September 22, from other bears. The and by then had mother of the cubs gave well developed birth to her first cub last coats. By Septem- year in September in an ber 30, the female enclosure with at least 3 started eating and other adult bears. She the cubs were displayed signs of agita- beginning to walk

tion, pacing the enclosure © Rohan Pieris about the enclo- carrying the cub in her sure. On October mouth until zoo veterinar- 12, the cubs were ians eventually took the first seen riding on cub and attempted to their mother’s hand raise it. Zoo veteri- back, and were narians then contacted us eating solid food about births of sloth bears by October 31. in the wild. Delayed Thanks to the implantation is reported in timely action of sloth bears, so anticipating the Colombo Zoo the precise time of parturi- staff, and informa- tion may be difficult. tion from Thomas Based on studies in Nepal, Spady and his we suggested that sloth colleagues at the bear females approaching San Diego zoo, parturition, possibly 5-6 mother and cubs months post-mating, are currently might reduce food intake reported to be

© Rohan Pieris or cease to feed a few Sloth bear female with two cubs, Colombo Zoo, Sri Lanka. healthy and active.

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 33 Captive Bears The Adventures of the “Bears of Montecristo” or How Four Old Bears Escaped from an Island

Andrés E. Bracho S. and constructed Red Tremarctos Coordinator of concrete and Programa de Estudios para Graduados iron. To give an Facultad de Ciencias. Veterinarias idea about the Universidad del Zulia bizarre situation, Maracaibo, Venezuela the sign in front Phone +58-416-3676814 of the sloth Email [email protected] bear’s cage read: “Asiatische Beer In 1997, when I was working as — Siberia” general curator of Gustavo Rivera (“Asiatic Bear Zoo in Venezuela, I received a call from Siberia” in from the director of Parke Tropikal, a Dutch). zoo located on Curacao Island in the The zoo had Caribbean Sea north of Venezuela received the

© Andrés E. Bracho S. that belongs to The Netherlands. The animals from an Pancha at Parke Tropikal. zoo was seeking a health, nutrition old zoo that and management advisor. This closed in Aruba (a neighboring Ursus americanus (black variety)…a request motivated my first visit to island) in the mid-1980s. By the time pretty good situation! The Maracaibo the island where I met a group of 4 of my arrival, the bears’ diet was Zoo agreed to accept the bears and bears that captured my heart, brain limited exclusively to sweet potatoes. the process to legally transport the and time for almost 6 years. The bears presented abnormal skin, animals between countries started. fur and behavior. Fortunately I continued to visit Parke Tropikal the staff recognized the poor every 3 months and personally situation and decided to find followed the transfer process, but the bears a better home in problems began. In 2001, Parke another zoo. Tropikal offered me the position of In the meantime, we tried to zoo director for 1 year, which I improve the diets but it was accepted in order to facilitate very difficult. Initially the moving the bears. My goal was to bears accepted pumpkins and give them a better place to live and gradually some concentrated die (apart from Nena, the other bears food, but never real fresh were very old). meat. We also concentrated One problem was that Parke our efforts on carrying out Tropikal had no records about the clinical analyses, and environ- bears’ origins, and the island’s

© Andrés E. Bracho S. Bear cage at Parke Tropikal. mental enrichment together government office had one stating Three cages contained a female with vitamin supplementation. that the sloth bear was a female Ursus americanus (called Nena), the The next step was to find a new Ursus thibetanus. This problem was daughter of a male-female pair of home for the bears. In 1998, I solved amazingly…I had a meeting Ursus americanus (brown variety — contacted 6 Latin American zoos in with the secretary of the Wildlife called Pancha and the male) that order to propose the exchange but Office at the Ministry of Agriculture lived in an adjacent cage, and a none responded. Then I remembered and, with pictures of both species, we female Melursus ursinus (called Vieu my native city’s zoo, Parque Sur decided its identity was a Melursus which means “old man” in (Maracaibo Zoo), which in my ursinus, because the animal has white papiament, the local language — at opinion has the best bear enclosures nails and the Ursus tibetanus has black that time everybody believed it was a in Venezuela: naturalistic wide open ones!!! male) that was its neighbor. The areas with pools, trees and real grass. On the other hand, in Venezuela, enclosures were old-fashioned 1930’s At that time they had 2 empty the authorities of Parque Sur called style cages, too small for the species enclosures and 1 with only a female their chief advisor, Dr. Bartolomé

34 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Captive Bears

Marin proposed to use pine wood to Maracaibo and Dr. Marin was stuck build the transport cages and person- with the bears on the Caribbean Sea ally supervised the construction of (the captain refused to go back — in four cages that could transport both April, during the beginning of the bears and tapirs (big enough for tapirs hurricane season). and strong enough for bears). Dr. The rule in transporting animals is Marin accompanied the bears in the to withhold food. Fortunately we boat (he has years of experience had provided every cage with a transporting all kinds of animals by removable water dish and I gave Dr. truck, airplane and helicopter) while I Marin a bag of concentrated dog waited for them at the harbor in food, just in case. Three days later, Maracaibo. We alerted the port the situation in Venezuela was authorities to immediately transport almost normal and the boat finally

© Andrés E. Bracho S. the animals to the zoo and do the arrived. Dr. Marin personally tests transport cages. paperwork later. Dr. Marin and I Everybody at the Maracaibo Zoo Marin, and together we solved the refused to risk using anesthesia was expecting the animals, even bureaucratic issues related to the because of the age of the animals, so representatives of the mass media, bears’ transfer. We because as far as arranged an we knew this exchange of a would be the male-female pair first and only of lowland tapirs Melursus ursinus (Tapirus terrestris) registered in for the Curacao Latin America. bears, and we Dr. Marin was a started building a real hero big, modern, because, against naturalistic any prediction, enclosure for the he maintained tapirs. The chal- the condition of lenge then was the the four animals cost of the trip and in small cages for how to do it. three days at sea. Instead of using In July 2004, air transport, we Vieu, the old chose to use the sea, Melursus ursinus because for us it was died. He was free. The owner of a about 30 years old fleet of ships that and the necropsy

transport concrete © Andrés E. Bracho S. finally demon- Bear enclosure at Maracaibo Zoo. from Maracaibo to strated that he Curacao twice a week was a close friend after 4 tries and 1 broken claw we was a she. The family of Ursus americanus of Parke Tropikal, and he offered to take loaded all the bears into the cages and is still at Parque Sur, in good conditions. the bears to their new home at no cost. onto the boat. The date was April 11, They now eat a variety of vegetables, The boats returned empty to Maracaibo 2002 — the day of the coup d’etat in fruits and real fresh meat, but always the every week and the total time of the trip Venezuela. main item in every meal must be sweet was only 12 hours. Due to the national strike in potatoes…a memory of past hard times. We couldn’t find the international Venezuela, every airport and harbor Thanks to Denis Torres, Shaenandoa regulations to transport live animals by was closed for national security Garcia Rangel, Ma. Lourdes Fuenmayor, sea, so we used the airline rules. Dr. reasons. I couldn’t make the trip to her husband and brother for their help with language and editing. International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 35 Captive Bears Idaho Black Bear Rehab

Sally Maughan times. The veterinarian advised Idaho Black Bear Rehab, Inc. no further treatment, because 6097 Arney Lane the cub exhibited no discom- Garden City, Idaho 83714, USA fort or difficulties with walking Email [email protected] or running. She currently has Website www.bearrehab.org about 80% normal use of the front leg and a spring release is

© Sally Maughan, IBBR. Caring for 37 American black bear anticipated. Blue-eyed American black bear cub. cubs from 5 states (Idaho, Washing- A cub with sky blue eyes arrived new cub arrival, the the huffing, ton, Oregon, , and Wyoming) from , Idaho on October 7, puffing, and excitement mostly made 2004 our busiest year. The 2004. As of December when we last ceased. youngest cub arrived on February 20, saw the cub before hibernation, his Another behavior involved a tiny 2004 at 3-4 weeks old Oregon black bear cub. She is with eyes closed, weigh- very calm, and nothing seems ing 2.8 lbs. All bears are to bother her. She seems to currently doing well. observe her surroundings and Some cubs are hibernat- is thoughtful in her actions. ing, but many of the When we moved 5 cubs into smaller bears don’t weigh her enclosure she went enough to successfully around to 3 of them after hibernate and remain about an hour and intro- active. At peak feeding duced herself, just calmly times, daily food con- sitting within inches of them sumption included 120 as if to reassure them. She lbs. of dog food, a case seemed to calm the new apples and buckets of arrivals. We noticed in the assorted fruit, salmon, next few days that the new and lots of acorns. arrivals she greeted were easily Vegetation in the enclo- interacting with her, but not sures was quickly eaten yet the other cubs. She became

and trampled. All of the © Sally Maughan, Idaho Black Bear Rehab. our little peacemaker. cubs will be active by American black bear cubs at Idaho Black Bear Rehab. We started filming our March and a spring release training video this year and is planned for May. Out-of-state bears eyes were still blue. No one we spoke will continue filming through the will return home, and Idaho cubs will with has ever seen a bear that age spring release. It will show the be released wearing radio collars and with blue eyes. It will be interesting rehabilitation process from cubs of 3- ear tags. to see if they remain blue until the 4 weeks of age to the release of In July, a female cub arrived that release date. If any of you have seen yearlings in May. When completed had been hit by a car. The mother cubs this age with blue eyes, please in fall 2005, the video will be remained with the cub desperately contact us. available to state wildlife agencies, trying to help her even while people Early in the year, as each new cub bear projects, wildlife rehabilitators, were stopping to assist. Finally the arrived, resident bears would huff and others working with bears. mother had to move away and leave and puff and run from the new bear. In April 2004, we received non- her cub — a very sad sight. The cub It did not take the new cubs long to profit approval from the U.S. Inter- had a shattered front leg and a realize they had the run of the nal Revenue Service. dislocated hip. A surgeon repaired enclosure, at least for a short time. Visit www.bearrehab.org. The the front leg, sewed wounds on the Usually it took about 2-3 weeks in handbook detailing the rehabilita- rear leg, and re-located the hip. Over the larger main enclosure for the tion process is on the website under the next 8 weeks, the cub healed cubs to merge into one happy, the Professionals menu. Contact us nicely, but the hip dislocated 3 playful group. However, with each for a PDF or hard copy.

36 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Student Forum

Diana Doan-Crider Important Message for looking like they need a medic. IBA Student Current Truman Users Nevertheless, let me use this analogy Coordinator We recently experienced technical to rally you students. We IBAers are a Caesar Kleberg disruptions when the university bunch of bear biologists with Wildlife Research Institute/ server was updated. If you have not fulltime jobs, and all of our time with King Ranch Institute for Ranch Mgmt. received a TRUMAN-TEST message in the IBA is voluntary. Not only that, MSC 218 the past few weeks, please notify me but out of a membership of over 500, Texas A&M University-Kingsville so we can update your information. about 10% carry the actual work Kingsville, TX 78363-8202, USA load. The IBA is a critical organiza- Phone (361) 593-5407 tion for bear biologists and bear Email [email protected] Preparatevi Per L’Italia!! conservation efforts across the globe. IBA Travel Grants Without it, I would hate to imagine Are you an IBA student? Are Limited! the void for bears and the people Then you need to join the Help Lighten the Load! who study and love them. For 37 Student Forum List Serve! Plan ahead by saving your money now! years, the IBA has worked very hard Look for outside sponsors! to develop cohesiveness among bear NEW IBA STUDENTS Italy conference registration page 45. researchers around the world, and to SIGN UP NOW FOR THE TRUMAN Travel grant application page 47. develop important initiatives such as STUDENT LIST SERVE! Stay Posted with the the grants program, our peer- • For students only. TRUMAN LIST SERVE. reviewed journal Ursus, the Bear • Discussions pertaining to bear Specialist Group, conferences, and biology, management, or study international outreach. In addition, design challenges. Thunder! the IBA uses its expertise to represent • Assistance with proposals and the 8 bear species around the world I finally got my DVD set of Band study design through IBA profes- when it comes to conservation issues of Brothers, which is Steven sionals. and political decisions that affect Ambrose’s account of the 506th • Job searches, announcements, bear populations. Regiment of the 101st Airborne’s information regarding the IBA During D-Day, Easy Company used Easy Company during World War II. and student membership. the code word “Thunder”, whose The cover says, “They didn’t just • Planning for IBA student activities response was “Flash” when company carry the weight of the world on and meetings. members were trying to identify one their shoulders — they carried each • IBA membership is encouraged, but another in the field. Lately, recent other.” Easy Company was a group not required for initial sign-up. shouts into the dark woods of bear of elite riflemen and paratroopers INSTRUCTIONS biology have resulted in few re- that played a critical role in winning • Contact Diana Doan-Crider at d- sponses, making some of us believe WWII. While they were paid only [email protected] to enroll. that we should concern ourselves $150 per month, they still volun- • After enrollment, go to: with potential casualties. IBA mem- teered in the U.S. Army. Easy http://aristotle.tamuk.edu. bership has decreased by 30% in 2 Company was a strategic factor on • Click on Agricultural Lists. years, and we need to find our lost D-Day at Normandy, and ultimately • Click on Truman. members. Students, in particular, are captured Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest 2 years • Enter your email address and the a critical part of the IBA, and we can’t later. From beginning to end, password “Bears01”. afford to lose any of you. however, Easy Company suffered • Go to Create Message. Episode 4 of Band of Brothers was 150% casualties. titled “Replacements.” That is the Don’t get me wrong: I’m not Do NOT reply to list serve mes- answer to the question about how trying to compare the IBA to para- sages using your “reply” button. You Easy Company suffered a 150% troopers jumping out of planes and must return to Truman and respond casualty rate. Replacements were sent dodging bullets, although sometimes within the list serve so other mem- to take the place of casualties, and I see Council members limping bers will receive your message. were critical to maintaining the around after their meetings and offensive and ultimately winning the

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 37 Student Forum Thunder, cont’d. Student Spotlight: Andreas Zedrosser, Austria

war. They were also less experienced than the original members, and sometimes needed extra help in getting to the point where they could run with the veterans. That’s where you come in: one of the reasons that we established the Student Forum was to help you join the professional realm of bear biology, and also to provide re- placements who were ready to step in and keep the ground that we’ve gained in the IBA since 1968. As our older and wiser leaders step up to higher positions or retire, we need younger people who are already familiar with the IBA, the Council, and its activities. The Council needs to know what the IBA can do to serve you best, and

Photo courtesy Andreas Zedrosser how to recruit you into the core of the organization. I hate to think that When the Student Forum started, sity of Vienna/Austria. Despite the we might have students wandering Andreas Zedrosser was the first to step unwillingness of universities in his around in the woods, needing help up to the task. Since that time, he has native Austria to adapt to his desire to with bear research projects, and become part of the backbone of this study wildlife management, he living on a diet of leftover C-rations project along with students like essentially created his own curriculum and bark. It’s like the time “Bull” Ximena Velez (IBN 13(3):31) and and had to wade through miles of Randleman got left behind enemy Alexandros Karamanlidis (IBN bureaucracy to do it. Part of that lines with a chunk of flak in his 13(4):37). His help was essential in journey included working in Slovenia shoulder, and a few of his buddies organizing functions for the students and Romania with bears, , and from Easy Company went back at in Norway and San Diego, and he is lynx, and with World Wildlife Fund- night to look for him. If you want to already helping with preparations for Austria. Andreas suffered the common become more involved with the IBA, Italy. One of the greatest and most disease of “classavoiditis”, which is contact me and I’ll put you to work. important things I can say about found in most bear biology students We’ll need lots of help with the Andreas is that his optimistic outlook who prefer to spend most of their time upcoming Italy and Japan meetings. and determination to keep everyone chasing animals in the field rather Most of all, just shout “Flash!” so I’ll from giving up is absolutely para- than sitting in the classroom. While it know that you’re out there. Your mount to keeping the rest of us afloat. took a little longer to graduate than he membership is very important to us. Even the Titanic might have had a preferred, he graduated with honors If anyone’s lost, I want to know chance if Andreas was there to from the University of Vienna where about it! encourage everyone to paddle. he conducted a study on the brown Andreas thinks that he is somewhat . He’s very happy in his current pushy and narrow-minded. I call it position where he is studying the assertive and focused. His determina- growth and reproduction of European tion has created his success today as a brown bears, and seems to be deter- Ph.D. student with Jon Swenson’s mined to continue working with bears. Scandinavian Bear Project in Norway, We are certainly happy to have him on where he is enrolled in a joint program board with the IBA. Keep your eye on between the Agricultural University of him — he’ll be on the Council Norway and the Agricultural Univer- someday!

38 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Publications Contents: Ursus 16(1) 2005 Wildlife Accident Reporting System 1983-2002

Ursus (16)1 should be in the mail American black bear popula- Leonard Sielecki by May 2005. Subscription to Ursus is tion size and genetic diversity at included with IBA membership (page Apostle Islands National Ministry of Transportation 53), volumes can also be purchased Lakeshore by Jerrold L. Belant, Julie PO Box 9850 Stn. Prov. Govt. separately (page 55). F. Van Stappen, and David Paetkau, Victoria, BC V8V 9T5, Canada Phone (250) 356-2255 Developments Fax (250) 387-7735 Perspectives, in Methodologies Email [email protected] Essays and Reviews Estimation of feeding history Alaskan brown bears, humans by measuring carbon and nitro- The Wildlife Accident Reporting System and habituation by Tom S. Smith, gen stable isotope ratios in hair of (WARS) 1983-2002 Special Annual Report Stephen Herrero and Terry D. Asiatic black bears by Rumiko N. on Wildlife Accident Reporting and DeBruyn. Mizukami, Mitsuaki Goto, Shigeyuki Mitigation in British Columbia describes Are black bears a factor in the Izumiyama, Hidetake Hayashi and the work and achievements of the British restoration of North American Muneoki Yoh. Columbia Ministry of Transportation grizzly bear populations? by David To weigh or not to weigh: over the last 20 years, as one of the J. Mattson, Stephen Herrero and Troy conditions for the estimation of pioneers and leaders in wildlife accident Merrill. body mass by morphometry by reporting and mitigation. The report is Marc R. L. Cattet and Martyn E. the latest and most comprehensive of Ecology Obbard. WARS annual reports published since the Grizzly bear associations along Evaluation of deterrents and early 1990s. the eastern slopes of by dogs on altering black bear The WARS annual report is a Gordon Stenhouse, John Boulanger, behavior by Jon P. Beckmann, Carl globally unique publication. Those John Lee, Karen Graham, Julie Duval W. Lackey and Joel Berger. who study the interaction of wildlife and Jerome Cranston. with transportation infrastructure Consumption of pondweed Humans and Bears will find the report informative, as it rhizomes by Yellowstone grizzly Andean bear management provides a rare insight into the bears by David J. Mattson, Shannon needs and interactions with dynamics of the wildlife/highway R. Podruzny, and Mark A. Haroldson. humans in Colombia by Jeffrey P. interface. The WARS is used in British Denning behavior and den site Jorgenson and Sergio Sandoval A. Columbia to: selection of grizzly bears along the Natural landscape feature, 1. quantify the magnitude of Parsnip River, British Columbia, human-related attractants, and wildlife-related collisions by species; Canada by Lana M. Ciarniello, Mark conflict hotspots: a spatial analy- 2. identify accident-prone loca- S. Boyce, Douglas C. Heard and Dale sis of human-grizzly bear conflicts tions and accident trends; R. Seip. by Seth M. Wilson, Michael J. 3. direct accident mitigation Madel, David J. Mattson, Jonathan efforts (such as wildlife exclusion Genetics M. Graham, James A. Burchfield and fencing and wildlife crossing struc- Geostatistical analysis of allele Jill M. Belsky. tures) to problem locations; presence patterns among American Human-sun bear conflicts in 4. evaluate the effectiveness of black bears in eastern North East Kalimantan, Indonesian accident mitigation techniques; Carolina by Laura M. Thompson, Borneo by Gabriella Fredriksson. 5. develop species-specific accident Frank T. van Manen and Timothy L. risk profiles for highway corridors; King. 6. advance mitigation efforts to Genetic variation and related- protect rare and endangered species; and ness in grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) 7. establish policies and strategies in the Prudhoe Bay region and for accident issues and mitigation adjacent areas in northern Alaska initiatives. by Matthew A. Cronin, Richard A limited number of free copies of

Shideler, Lisette Waits and R. John the WARS 1983-2002 CD are available. Nelson. Contact the address above.

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 39 Bears in Culture Pihoqahiak: The Ever-wandering One

Christine Clarke If the hunter was successful, upon his agitation only forced the spear farther in, [email protected] return home, he had to remove all of his and the murderer died. His mother, Anoritoq, outer garments in a prescribed manner mourned for her son and asked the hunters The relationship between bear and before entering the house, and he could to give her a bear embryo, that she might humankind is fascinatingly complex not eat the meat or blubber of the bear raise it as her child. — especially between the polar bear for a month. Particularly important was When the hunters took a pregnant and Inuit peoples of the far north. The the treatment of the harpoon head, for it bear, they presented the unborn cub to Inuit believed that the spirits of was believed that the soul of the polar Anoritoq, and she raised it as her son, so humans and polar bears were inter- bear remained on the point for 4-5 days. it could catch seals for her. All went well changeable and many legends de- If the soul of the bear was disturbed or until winter. Unable to see seals in the scribed polar bear men walking offended during this time, it could easily winter darkness, the bear began stealing upright, shedding their fur skins, and persecute the people with illness or other other families’ meat. Soon the bear’s conversing as men. Other stories distress. cousins, the village dogs, surrounded him describe how Inuit ancestors learned to Other rituals included providing the and held him until the people killed him. hunt seals by watching polar bears. An dead bear with drinking water (as bears Anoritoq sobbed a song to her dead Inuk seal hunter, for instance, would were always thirsty), and hanging the bear-son until the tears froze on her slide forward on hands and knees, skin, fur-side out with the skull intact, by cheeks and her body turned to stone. concealed behind a white bear skin the nostrils outside of the snow hut. A lazy or dishonest person would frame and wait patiently for a seal to Inside, the bear’s bladder, spleen, tongue, be held up to public ridicule, and surface at its breathing hole. Since the and other organs were hung together could potentially be shunned and polar bear was highly respected in Inuit with presents given to the soul of the isolated from the group, for no one culture, they traditionally followed a set bear. If the bear was male, hunting was expected to survive by them- of rules governing the treatment of a implements and tools were provided. If selves without their family and hunted polar bear so that the bear’s soul the bear was female, cooking utensils friends in the harsh Arctic climate. would be honored and the people and domestic tools were left. Bears were In addition to providing food, the fur protected from sickness and disease. given human tools because they could of an average polar bear was enough to The Inuit believed that all creatures potentially change themselves into make three pairs of men’s trousers, worn have souls, and must be treated human form. These were the kind of with the fur on the outside, and one pair properly in death, lest their spirits gifts also left with deceased humans. of kamik (snow boots). The fur, which avenge themselves on the living. Food from a hunt was shared with the could retain and slowly release water, Nuliajuk, the mother of animals and whole community. Individuals had few was also used to ice the runners of the the mistress of the land and sea, could personal possessions; everything else komatik (sledge), and the skin could be make these animals either visible and belonged to the community. This used for the sledge itself. The bones were easy to hunt, or she could make them expectation of acting for the benefit of used to make digging or pounding tools, disappear, so that humans would be the whole community is demonstrated while the skull and teeth were kept for hungry and cold. Hunting taboos were in the following story: protection and ceremonial purposes. The necessary then, to ensure favor from A man named Angutdligamaq never only part of the polar bear that wasn’t Nuliajuk and future hunting success. hunted but would kill successful hunters and used was the liver (due to toxic concen- The polar bear spirit, Nanuk, was steal their seals. Others lived in fear of him trations of vitamin A), as it could make considered to be the most powerful, but finally agreed that something must be even the sled dogs very ill. dangerous, and potentially vengeful done. They decided to teach him to hunt, but The importance of the polar bear to spirit, after Nuliajuk herself. Polar bear Angutdligamaq proved exceedingly clumsy the Inuit people is simply and eloquently hunts were often accidental; resulting and had to be shown how to do everything, stated by an elderly Greenland Inuk from the hunter’s discovery of fresh including how to sleep in a snow house. The hunter to Knud Rasmussen (a tracks while seal hunting. The hunter others told him he’d sleep best if he left one Greenlandic writer/anthropologist) at followed the bear with his sled dogs, leg out of his trousers. the beginning of the 20th century. often trailing for days until the final When his companions saw When asked to define the greatest encounter. Usually the Inuit fought in Angutdligamaq’s bare backside exposed, they happiness of life, the man replied: “To close proximity to the polar bear, using buried a spear in it. Angutdligamaq jumped run across fresh bear tracks and be ahead sealing harpoons or spears. up, bellowing with pain and rage, but this of all the other sledges.”

40 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Opportunities Funding for Field-based Volunteers Needed Wildlife Conservationists for Wyoming Bear Habitat Research

Stacey Iverson, Program Manager • Programs should make a unique Shannon Podruzny, Ecologist Wildlife Conservation Network contribution to conservation efforts Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team 25745 Bassett Lane and be highly collaborative with USGS Northern Rocky Los Altos, CA 94022, USA other programs. Mountain Science Center Phone (650) 949-3533 • Conservation rather than PO Box 172780 Fax (650) 949-3733 research focused. Forestry Sciences Lab-MSU Email [email protected] • Significant community integra- Bozeman, MT 59717, USA Internetwww.WildNet.org tion/involvement. Phone (406) 994-2607 • A demonstrated commitment to Email [email protected] The Wildlife Conservation Net- hiring, developing, and empowering work (WCN) is dedicated to the local staff. The U.S. Geological Survey and support of field-based conservation- • Field-based with the principle the National Park Service are con- ists who are working actively with conservationist living 80% of the tinuing a comparative study of food local communities to protect endan- time in the range states. habits and habitat use of American gered and preserve • At least 80% of the program black and grizzly bears in Grand their natural habitats. We focus on budget is spent in the range states. Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA. innovative, independent conserva- • Budget typically less than Volunteers are needed to assist tionists who are exploring new ways $300,000. ground crews in visiting GPS collar to resolve the conflicts between • Project operates independently locations, performing habitat use people and wildlife, and actively of large organizations. reconnaissance and scat collection engage local people as effective • Not-for-profit organization. for DNA and food habits analysis. stewards of their environment. WCN • Operates with all required The work involves extensive hiking provides conservation entrepreneurs government and legal requirements. and backpacking in very remote, with the financial, technical and For more information on WCN, grizzly bear inhabited areas. Previous administrative support that helps to the Partner application process or outdoor and orienteering experience make their work more efficient, application forms, visit is a plus. Field work will be per- effective and successful. www.wildnet.org or email formed May-November. We’re WCN currently supports nine [email protected]. looking for dedicated budding conservation projects at the Partner wildlife biologists who are willing to level. Each WCN Partner attends the commit 3 or more months to this annual Wildlife Conservation Expo project. The work is hard, the hours as a featured presenter, has access to are long, the pay is almost non- WCN donors for funding and existent (per diem allowance), and networking, receives an annual American Zoo the housing is primitive, but this is minimum funding guarantee from an incomparable opportunity to gain WCN, and receives assistance with and Aquarium experience doing wildlife research. fundraising, donor development, Association Grants For more information, or to send a marketing and technology. resume and references, contact the WCN reviews applications for new Application, instructions, and address above. Partners each January. The applica- other new information for the 2005 tion process is rigorous, and only one Conservation Endowment Fund or two new projects are accepted (CEF) are now available on the AZA each year. Below are the criteria that website (aza.org) under Conserva- all applicants must satisfy to be tion and Science. The deadline for considered for WCN Partner status: CEF grant applications is Monday, 2 • Working in developing countries. May 2005. • Focus on threatened or endan- gered species (currently limited to terrestrial mammals).

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 41 Events

Ramada Inn and Conference Center Tallahassee, Florida What is the “Bearometric” Pressure? Recognizing Black Bear Conservation Issues in Eastern Ecosystems First Call for Papers/Posters Deadline: January 10, 2005 Submit Abstracts as attachments in Wildlife Society Bulletin format using WORD to: [email protected]

Topics to Consider for Paper Submissions:  Managing Black Bear Populations  Human Dimensions  Land Use Initiatives and Partnerships to Conserve Land  Managing Displaced Black Bears  Methods to Detect Range Expansion

Special Events: Field Trips, Safe Capture Course, Guest Lectures

Registration Information: Registration Fees before February 1, 2005 $290 – Full Registration $190 – Student Registration Registration Fees after February 1, 2005 $340 – Full Registration $225 – Student Registration Registration includes: sessions, public forum, field trips, socials, lunches, banquet dinner, proceedings. Further information will be mailed to all IBA members and will be available on-line December, 2004.

Workshop Hotel Rates: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Ramada Inn and Conference Center. Free airport shuttle to and from hotel. • $70 per night – Single or Double Occupancy • $75 per night – Triple or Quad occupancy

Reservations need to be made before March 15, 2005. Please mention you are an 18th Eastern Black Bear Workshop participant to guarantee these rates. These rates include breakfast coupons for each occupant. To make reservations please call: 1-850-386-1027.

If you have any questions please email [email protected] Hosted by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Bear Program.

42 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Events

Conference Program Excursions The conference begins on Tuesday Visit the website excursion page morning September 27 and ends for more information. Saturday October 1 in the afternoon. Hiking in Bear Habitat Program details will be posted on the A trip to the Tovel Valley, where the conference website in the upcoming last native bears survived and months. Slovenian bears are being translocated. Organized in cooperation with the Website and Updates Adamello-Brenta Natural Park, you will For more information on the confer- visit the very heart of the park, in the ence program, travel grants (page 47) wonderful Brenta massif, one of the and registration (page 45), use the most beautiful areas of the entire conference website www.provincia.tn.it/ Alpine arch with the chance to observe foreste/16IBAconference or many wildlife species including www.bearbiology.com/workconf1.html chamois, red deer, roe deer, marmot and watch this newsletter. and . The hike is moder- ately difficult; bring hiking shoes and Registration rain clothing. We encourage participants to Euro 30.00 fee covers transport by register online and take advantage of coach and lunch. Led by an English- the early registration fee. Use the speaking park ranger. form on the conference website or Venice on page 45. Three hour tour of the city of Romanesque-Byzantine origins with Conference Fees 8 monuments proclaimed UNESCO Conference fee is 270 euros for Heritage of Humanity sites. The Maurizio Zanin those registering before 31 July 2005. program includes a visit to Piazza Planning Committee Chair Late registration will cost 320 euros. San Marco, the Basilica, the Ducal Provincia Autonoma di Trento Student fee is 125 euros, and late Palace, the prisons and the world Forest and Wildlife Service registration will be 150 euros. The fee famous Ponte dei Sospiri (bridge of Via G.B. Trener 3 includes coffee breaks but not the sighs). 38100 Trento, Italy conference banquet. Eat lunch at Do Spade restaurant and & wine cellar, located just a few meters Claudio Groff Travel Grants from the Rialto and active since 1400. Planning Committee Co-chair A travel grant application is With his style, charm and dadaistic Provincia Autonoma di Trento available on the conference website spirit, the owner will recommend Forest and Wildlife Service and on page 47. Venetian dishes and good red wines. Via G.B. Trener 3, Euro 90.00 fee covers travel by 38100 Trento, Italy Banquet coach, lunch, English-speaking guide Phone ++39 0461 494961 The conference banquet is sched- and entry to museums (minimum 15 Email [email protected] uled for the second day of the participants). & conference, September 27, in the Art, History (and Wine) Piero Genovesi Toblino Castle, about 20 km from Guided tour of the beautiful, recently Planning Committee Co-chair Riva del Garda. This is one of the opened, Contemporary Art Museum National Wildlife Institute most beautiful castles in Trentino MART in Rovereto. Then on to Isera, an Via Cà Fornacetta 9 (XII-XVI century), on a lake shore agricultural village opposite Rovereto on 40064 Ozzano dell’Emilia surrounded by a Mediterranean forest the banks of the Adige River. Bologna, Italy of evergreen (Quercus ilex). Lunch at the Casa Del Vino, Phone ++39 051 6512228 allowing visitors to taste genuine Email [email protected] Trentino cuisine together with prized

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 43 Events

autochthonous wines produced by Workshops and Meetings Body of text: Times, 12 pt, right the adjoining cellar. IBA standing committees, IBA justification, single-spaced lines, no Visit Trento, a beautiful Renais- working groups, and workshop indents. Use a space line after title, sance city and capital of Trentino organizers who wish to schedule author line and after each paragraph. Province, whose colors and buildings meetings/workshops during the Tables, figures or references are make it unique among Alpine cities. conference please contact Claudio optional, and should be incorporated It was the seat of the Council of Groff at [email protected] into the text (please ensure that Trento (1545-1563) and has always to schedule these events. lettering in tables and figures is large been a meeting point between the enough to be legible). Italian and Central European cul- Call for Papers and Posters Maximum length 1 A4 page (cm tures. We invite abstracts for consider- 21x29.7). Euro 50.00 covers travel by coach, ation as oral papers or posters. The lunch, English-speaking guide and entry conference will cover all aspects of Deadline for Abstracts to museums (minimum 15 participants). bear biology and conservation. Deadline for submitting abstracts Specific topics may include: conser- is 30 April 2005. Abstracts should Post Conference Trip vation of bears in Europe, human include contact information for the Abruzzo, October 2-6 dimensions, genetic monitoring, paper’s author(s). Please submit your In cooperation with the National harvest planning. abstract to Piero Genovesi at email Forest Service, we are organizing a There are three types of presentations, [email protected] visit to the Abruzzo Mountains 1) Invited speakers (25 minutes, 5 which has one of the very few minutes for questions); Ursus Submissions remnant bear populations (30–50) of 2) Oral presentations (15 minutes, Submission of a full manuscript to Western Europe. The range of this 5 minutes for questions), and Ursus (the peer-reviewed journal of the highly threatened bear population is 3) Posters. Powerpoint and International Association for Bear primarily located within the Abruzzo overhead presentations are possible, Research and Management) is encour- National Park, in the beautiful if you need other media (slides, aged and will be a factor in selecting mountains of Central Italy. video, etc.) please contact the papers. Authors of poster presentations Euro 30.00 fee covers one way conference office. Maximum poster also are encouraged to submit full papers coach transfer from Riva del Garda to size is 90 x 150 cm. Posters should to Ursus. Applicants are asked to indicate Abruzzo. Other costs (accommoda- include a picture of the author. whether their presentation will be tion, meals, local transports, return accompanied by submission of a trip) will be paid in Abruzzo to local Standards for Abstracts manuscript to Ursus. Consult the journal organizers (minimum 15 participants). Abstracts should be 1 page long website (www.ursusjournal.com) for and in English. Submit them elec- instructions to authors and other Riva del Garda Attractions tronically as an attached document information. Riva del Garda offers extraordinary in Word or RTF and indicate whether Authors submitting Ursus manu- excursions. you prefer to make an oral presenta- scripts are reminded that page charges Biking over Lake Garda: a tion or present a poster. The scien- (US$90/printed page) are their respon- mountain bike tour to the top of tific committee will decide whether sibility, and are encouraged to budget Monte Baldo, over lake Garda and the contribution will be presented, accordingly. Typically 2.5 pages of descending 2000 m back to Riva del and whether it will be an oral double-spaced manuscript equals 1 Garda. presentation or a poster. page of final printed text. Canyoning: Breathtaking dives Specific Format Requirements An application can be made to the into river gorges and pools, and Margins 3 cm. Title: Times, 14 pt, IBA for a Publication Grant to fully gliding along narrow passages. Two bold, centered. Author line: Times, or partially cover page charges for or more hours of excitement guided 12 pt, centered. Example: Smith DG, papers from projects where these by experts who guarantee a com- Miller AB, University of XY, Ger- charges cannot be met. A letter to pletely safe run. many, and email address. Maximum the IBA Treasurer (address on page length two lines. 52) outlining the request for an exemption from page charges should be made as early as possible. 44 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Events 16th IBA Conference Registration Form

• Payment by credit card is only possible with online registration. • If you register by mail/fax, you can pay either by bank transfer or by check.

Please fill in, print and return this form, together with check or receipt of bank transfer, to the organizing secretariat:

Orikata organizzazione congressi Bank account: OriKata organizzazione congressi Via Zell, 138050 COGNOLA (TN) BANCA BOVIO CALDERARI Phone + 39 0461 234411 Filiale Top Center Trento (Italy) Fax + 39 0461 233282 Account Number 052443850130 ABI 03064CAB 01802 IBAN = IT49 N 03064 01802 052443850130

Fill in the form (PLEASE USE ALL CAPITAL LETTERS):

First Name * ______

Last name * ______

Address *______

Zip code * ______State/province ______

City * ______Country * ______

Organization * ______

Phone ______Fax ______

E-mail *______* = required information

Conference Registration Fees:

Registration Fee  270.00 euros (320.00 euros after July 31, 2005.) Student Fee  125.00 euros (150.00 euros after July 31, 2005.) To be entitled to pay the reduced fee, students must provide evidence of university registration by sending a registration certificate by fax to +39 0461 233282.

No registration fee is required for companions.

TOTAL CONFERENCE AMOUNT: Euro ______

Registration for the Gala Dinner on September 28, 2005:

• Gala dinner euro 35.00 each Number of Participants: ______Total Euro______

Continued on Next Page...

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 45 Events Registration for the Mid-conference Trips on September 29, 2005. I am interested in: • Hiking in the Bear Range Fee includes transport and lunch. euro 30.00 each Number of Participants: ___ Total______• Excursion to Venice Fee includes all transport, lunch,Museum entrance fees and an English speaking guide. euro 90.00 each Number of Participants: ___ Total______• Art, History (and Wine) Fee includes all transport, lunch,Museum entrance fees and an English speaking guide. euro 50.00 each Number of Participants: ___ Total______

Post Conference Trip • Transfer to Abruzzo euro 30.00 each Number of Participants: ___ Total______Fee only includes bus transport to Abruzzo. Accommodation, meals, local transports and return trip costs shall be paid in Abruzzo.

Hotel Reservation A reservation fee equal to one night’s stay per person will be charged for hotel booking placed using the registration form. The remaining amount can be paid by cash, credit card or check at the conference.

Arrival Date ______Departure Date ______Total Nights______

Hotel Rates (VAT included) — B&B per person, per night: Rooms will be assigned in chronological order of booking. Should the requested category be fully booked, we will book you in a different one. The confirmation will be sent from the Organizing Secretariat by fax or email.

CategoryDouble as single Double room Total Reservation Fee use room (= 1 night)

I pay the rate for one person only, euro 58.85, and I will share the room with: A (4 star/3 star sup.) euro 78.80

I pay for two persons, euro 117.70.

I pay the rate for one person only, euro 39.90, and I will share the room with: B (3 star) euro 56.75

I pay for two persons, euro 79.80.

I pay the rate for one person only, euro 27.30, and I will share the room with: C (2 star) euro 38.35

I pay for two persons, euro 54.60.

I pay the rate for one person only, euro 18.00, and I will share the room with: Hostel

I pay for two persons, euro 36.00.

TOTAL AMOUNT: euro ______Cancellation/Refund Written cancellations received before September 1, 2005 will receive a full refund subject to a 20% processing fee.

Privacy Information In accordance with the Italian Legislative Decree 196/2003, Orikata will use your personal data only for purposes related to the IBA Conference and is therefore responsible for its use. Should you wish to cancel or change your address at any time, please contact Orikata: Organizzazione Congressi - Via Zell, 1 I-38050 Cognola di Trento (TN), Italy, email [email protected].

46 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Events 16th IBA Travel Grants Application — Deadline July 31, 2005

Fill in the form (PLEASE USE CAPITAL LETTERS) and fax it to the organizing secretariat + 39 0461 233282 Travel grant award/rejection will be communicated by the organizing secretariat by fax or email.

First Name *______

Last Name * ______

Address *______

Zip code * ______State/province ______

City * ______Country * ______

Organization * ______

Phone ______Fax ______

Email *______• = required information

Title and abstract of presentation submitted to the organizing committee (maximum 100 words):

______

______

______

______

______

Travel Information:  Airplane — Please issue a prepaid ticket to Verona. I would like to depart from the following airport: First choice ______Second choice ______ Train — I will buy the ticket (2nd class) and I will submit the receipt for reimbursement. From ______to ______(Verona or Rovereto)  Car — The organization will reimburse the equivalent of the train ticket (2nd class) for the same itinerary. From ______to Rovereto

For reimbursement of travel expenses, you must submit receipts to Orikata in Riva del Garda (original tickets or vouchers must be shown to confirm the purchase of a ticket on the Internet) or no later than October 30, 2005 to: OriKata – Organizzazione Congressi, Via Zell 1, 38050 Cognola (Trento - Italia).

Hotel Accommodation: • Type of room:  single  double  other • Organization will cover accommodation from September 26 (IN) to October 1 (OUT) 2005 — 5 nights in total, in a 3 star hotel. • If different from above, please indicate your arrival and departure dates:_____/09/2005; _____/10/2005.

Privacy Information In accordance with the Italian Legislative Decree 196/2003, Orikata will use your personal data only for purposes related to the IBA Conference and is therefore responsible for its use. Should you wish to cancel or change your address at any time, please contact Orikata: Organizzazione Congressi - Via Zell, 1 I-38050 Cognola di Trento (TN), Italy Email [email protected] International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 47 Events American Zoo and Aquarium Association:

Professional Training Regional Meetings Annual Conference A wide array of courses designed to Central Regional Meeting September 13-18, 2005 address key issues unique to our March 9-12, 2005 Chicago, Illinois, USA industry. Gain professional training, City, Missouri, USA make connections with peers, and Traditional Challenges/ AZA (American Zoo and Aquarium help broaden your thinking. Instruc- Creative Solutions Association) is accepting session tors are experienced, knowledgeable Designed for zoo and aquarium proposals for the 2005 annual and willing to help. professionals in management/ conference hosted by the John G. Work towards the first-ever operations, marketing/public rela- Shedd Aquarium in Chicago master’s degree for zoo and aquarium tions/development, conservation/ To submit a proposal please follow professionals: a Master’s in Zoo and education and animal management. the instructions on AZA’s website: Aquarium Leadership through The animal program will be heavily www.aza.org. All proposals must be George Mason University. Taking the weighted toward because the submitted online by March 4, 2005 courses requires additional projects Avian Scientific Group will meet in for consideration. and/or more rigorous examinations. conjunction with the workshop. For more information, contact : Continuing education units are Barbara Revard available. Courses offered in 2005: Annual Program Committee Vice Chair April 13, 2005 Eastern Regional Meeting Assistant Director Knoxville, Tennessee, USA April 13-16, 2005 Conservation Education (at the Eastern Regional Workshop) Knoxville, Tennessee, USA The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium • Institutional Collection Planning Get Real, Get Close, 9990 Riverside Drive April 16-21, 2005 Get Real Close Powell, Ohio 43065-0400, USA Detroit, Michigan, USA Designed for zoo and aquarium Phone (614) 645-3448 • Biology and Management professionals in education, animal Fax (614) 724-3653 April 28-30, 2005 husbandry, graphics, exhibit design, Email [email protected] Gainesville, Florida, USA and children’s zoos. Programming • Techniques for Butterfly Conserva- will also focus on animal welfare, tion and Management bears and small carnivores because April 30-May 6, 2005 the Animal Welfare Committee, Sacramento, California, USA Bear TAG (Taxon Advisory Group) • Advances in Animal Keeping in and Small Carnivore TAG will be Zoos and Aquariums meeting in conjunction with the • Conservation Education workshop. • Developing an Institutional In Situ Conservation Strategy For more information on attend- • Institutional Records Keeping ing the Regional Workshops, visit • Managing Animal Enrichment and http://www.aza.org/ConfWork/#reg. Training Programs • Population Management I: Data Acquisition & Processing • Population Management II: Data Analysis & Breeding Recommendations May 14-19, 2005 St. Augustine, Florida, USA • Crocodilian Biology and Captive Management For more information visit: http:// www.aza.org/prodev/ or contact: Geri Noland, Training Administrator, phone: (310) 562-0777 ext. 238, email: [email protected]

48 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Events International First European Congress Wildlife Film Festival of Conservation Biology

Missoula, Montana, USA Eger, Hungary multi-disciplinary network of April 30-May 7, 2005 August 23-27, 2006 conservationists across Europe drawing on global expertise in The wildlife film festival is gearing Owen T Nevin, Secretary conservation biology. The ECCB will up for its 28th year entitled Bridging Society for Conservation Biology also be hosting a meeting of the the Gaps: Media and Conservation. (European Section) Large Carnivore Initiative for Europe Known as the “The Filmmakers Email [email protected] enabling you to gain the greatest Festival”, it has evolved into one of benefit from your travel budget! the most significant film events: The European Section of the While August 2006 may seem a long where wildlife on screen means film Society for Conservation Biology is way off, we are all aware of the lead and filmmaking take center stage, pleased to announce the First time required to prepare papers and providing unsurpassed opportunities European Congress of Conservation secure funding. It is important, for filmmakers to share their work Biology (ECCB). We are determined therefore, to draw attention to the with the public and colleagues. to promote the development and use timetable for the submission of Enjoy networking opportunities, of science for the conservation of symposium proposals and abstracts pitching sessions, and hands-on European species and ecosystems, outlined below: workshops in the field and in the and to make sure that conservation May 2005 theater with the latest technology. policy is firmly supported by the best Call for Symposium Proposals Additionally the festival includes available scientific evidence. For this many dynamic seminars with some reason, and because of the multi- August 31, 2005 of the leading filmmakers worldwide. disciplinary nature of conservation Deadline for Symposium Proposals To register and learn more please biology, we aim to attract a wide visit http://www.wildlifefilms.org/ array of academics, students, policy September 2005 festival/registration.htm. Early makers, stakeholders, natural Call for Abstracts registration to receive a discount resource managers, and media and ends March 1, 2005. Scholarships are NGO representatives from all over February 2006 available. Europe to attend the ECCB. To Deadline for Abstracts achieve this multi-disciplinary representation, it is vital that we For current information, visit the circulate this announcement widely, ECCB web page (www.eccb2006.org). Ninth Western not only in the academic channels I look forward to meeting many of Black Bear Workshop but also to policy makers, indepen- you at the next IBA conference in dent scientists and biodiversity September and hope that carnivore New Mexico, USA managers. Being involved with the conservation will be well-represented Spring 2006 conservation and management of at the ECCB in 2006. bears worldwide, you will, I am sure, Rick Winslow appreciate the critical importance of Large Carnivore Biologist a coherent and science-based conser- New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish vation policy; this is especially true PO Box 25112, #1 Wildlife Way in Europe. By bringing together Santa Fe, NM 87505, USA diverse groups we hope to establish a Phone (505) 268-6347 or (505) 476-8046 Email [email protected]

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and Philmont Scout Ranch are hosting the 9th Western Black Bear Workshop, tentatively scheduled for spring 2006. Details will be provided as they develop.

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 49 Events 17th International Conference on Bear Research and Management October 2-6, 2006 Karuizawa Town, Nagano, Japan

Toshiki Aoi Since the Planning Committee Chair 1990s, bear- Faculty of Agriculture human con- Iwate University flicts have 3-18-8 Ueda, Morioka-city become a Iwate 020-8550, Japan major concern Phone & Fax +81 19 621 6136 in Karuizawa. Email [email protected] Food-condi- & tioned bears Koji Yamazaki repeatedly visit Planning Committee Secretary General garbage Zoological Laboratory stations in Ibaraki Nature Museum residential 700 Osaki, Iwai-city areas. In 1998, Ibaraki 306-0622, Japan an effort to Phone +81 297 38 2000 manage Fax +81 297 38 1999 garbage bears Email [email protected] was started by a private The 17th IBA Conference will be institute, the first IBA conference held in Asia. established by A planning committee has been a resort arranged for the conference, cooper- company. ating with government agencies, The confer- NGOs, and the locals for a successful ence site, Hotel meeting. We hope that the confer- Bleston Court ence will inspire more research and of Hoshino effective management plans for bears Resort, has in Asia. sophisticated facilities. There are also many other Conference Venue lodging facilities nearby. Various Call for Papers Karuizawa is a popular resort town leisure activities are available in the Please prepare your papers. located in the central part of Japan. area: hiking and bicycle trails, tennis Detailed information on conference Half of the town is within the courts, golf courses, shopping malls, schedule and presentations will be Jyoshin-etsu Plateau National Park, art museums and historic sites. posted in International Bear News and featuring 2000 m mountains, several It takes about 2.5 hours from Narita on the conference website. Presenta- volcanoes, and many hot springs. A International Airport on the super- tions on Asian bears are especially rich natural environment remains in express train to reach Karuizawa. encouraged. the park, and large mammals, such as Japanese black bears (Ursus Conference information Field Trips thibetanus), wild boars (Sus scrofa), More information for the confer- After the conference, we will offer sika deer (Cervus nippon), Japanese ence will be announced in upcom- various excursions which are enjoy- serows (Capricornis crispus), and ing issues of International Bear News able and reasonably priced. Some Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata), and on the conference website trips will visit bear habitat guided by have healthy populations. www.japanbear.org/iba2006.html. Japanese researchers. Right now, For more details on Karuizawa please plan your schedule for the town, visit http:// conference. We look forward to www.town.karuizawa.nagano.jp/ seeing you in Japan! html/English/index.html

50 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 Events 18th International Conference on Bear Research and Management Fall 2007 Monterrey, Mexico

Diana Doan-Crider Monterrey Office of Conventions ties are assisting so student participa- King Ranch Institute and Visitors (OCV) has coordinated tion should be high. Direct commu- for Ranch Management UN meetings at the CINTERMEX nication with the Mexican Consulate MSC 137 Conference Facility, and will help will ensure smooth travel for non- Phone (361) 593-5407 organize the IBA conference at the North Americans. Canadian and USA Fax (361) 593-5404 same venue (www.cintermex.com.mx/ visitors need a Tourist Visa on entry Email [email protected] and www.parquefundidora.org/) which requires a passport or birth- & including translation services certificate (2004 regulations). David G. Hewitt (Spanish, Russian, Japanese, et al), Nearby are the historic downtown, Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Inst. field trips, travel permits, and natural and scenic areas. Field trips MSC 218 logistics. Five-star lodging (US$80/ will include Chipinque, Sierra los Phone (361) 593-3963 night/2004) is connected to the 350- Picachos, and Cumbres National Fax (361) 593-3924 acre enclosed site, which includes an Parks (American black bear study Email [email protected] eco-park, museums, banks, restau- areas), Garcia Caves, Horsetail Falls Texas A&M University-Kingsville rants, family areas and an immacu- and Mina Archeological Area. Nature Kingsville, TX 78363-8202, USA late, newly renovated international watching includes red-fronted & hostel (225 beds, US$6/night/2004). parrots, migratory songbirds and Rodrigo Medellin L. Cheaper hotels (US$30-45/night) are monarch butterflies. The OCV will Centro de Ecologia within a 5-minute metro-ride. also coordinate discount travel for Universidad Autonoma de Mexico Corporate sponsorship should those wishing to visit more of Apartado Postal 70-275 support conference meals, field trips, Mexico. 04510 Mexico, DF, Mexico and special events, keeping registra- Email tion costs at a minimum. The OCV is [email protected] funding organization and printing. Phone +52-5-5622-9042 Monterrey’s 2 distinguished universi- Fax +52-5-5622-8995

Monterrey, Mexico’s third largest city (2 hours south of the USA), is beautifully situated in the Tamaulipan thornscrub/Chihuahuan desert at 800 masl next to the Sierra Madre Oriental Mountains which rise dramatically 2000 m to pine/oak forests. Autumn promises bear activity and pleasant weather. Nearby increasing bear-human conflicts make interest in bears high. Bear research and management has state and federal attention, but there is no active conservation strategy. This conference will focus attention on bear conservation at a critical point, and will encourage biologists to seek bear research and manage- ment training. Monterrey is very progressive, and conference facilities are ideal. An international airport has 250 daily direct flights from major cities. The

International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 51 IBA Officers & Council

Harry Reynolds, President* Andrew Derocher* Michael R. Vaughan^ Alaska Department of Fish and Game Department of Biological Science Virginia Cooperative 1300 College Road University of Alberta Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada 148 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Tech Phone (907) 459-7238 Phone 1 780 492 5570 Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321, USA Fax (907) 451-9723 Fax 1 780 492 9234 Phone (540) 231-5046 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Fax (540) 231-7580 [email protected] Email [email protected] Isaac Goldstein^ Jon Swenson Wildlife Conservation Society Koji Yamazaki* Vice President for Eurasia^ PO Box 833 Zoological Laboratory Department of Ecology and IPOSTEL Merida Ibaraki Nature Museum Natural Resource Management Estado Merida, Venezuela 700 Osaki Norwegian University of Life Sciences Phone 58-414-7176792 Iwai-city, Ibaraki 306-0622, Japan Postbox 5003 Email [email protected] Phone +81 297 38 2000 N-1432 Ås, Norway Fax +81 297 38 1999 Phone 47 64 94 85 30 John Hechtel* Email [email protected] Fax 47 64 94 85 02 Alaska Department of Fish and Game Email [email protected] 1800 Glenn Highway, Suite 4 Teresa DeLorenzo (non-voting) Palmer, AK 99645, USA International Bear News Editor Karen Noyce Phone (907) 746-6331 10907 N.W. Copeland St. Vice President for Americas* Fax (907) 746-6305 Portland, OR 97229, USA Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources Email [email protected] Phone (503) 643-4008 1201 East Highway 2 Fax (503) 643-4072 Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA Djuro Huber^ Email [email protected] Phone (218) 327-4432 University of Zagreb Fax (218) 327-4181 Biology Department, Veterinary Faculty Diana Doan-Crider (non-voting) Email [email protected] Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb IBA Student Affairs Coordinator Republic of Croatia King Ranch Institute Joseph Clark, Secretary* Phone 385 1 2390 141 for Ranch Management U.S. Geological Survey Fax 385 1 244 1390 MSC 137 Southern Appalachian Field Laboratory Email [email protected] Texas A&M University-Kingsville University of Tennessee Kingsville, TX 78363-8202, USA 274 Ellington Hall Ole Jakob Sørensen* Phone (361) 593-5407 Knoxville, TN 37996, USA Nord-trondelag University College (361) 593-5401 KRIRM Office Phone (865) 974-4790 Faculty of Social Sciences and Fax (361) 593-5404 Fax (865) 974-3555 Natural Resources Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Box 2501 N-7729 Steinkjer, Norway Richard B. Harris (non-voting) Frank van Manen, Treasurer* Phone +4774112052 Ursus Editor U.S. Geological Survey Fax +4774112101 218 Evans Southern Appalachian Field Laboratory Email [email protected] Missoula, MT 59801, USA University of Tennessee Phone & Fax (406) 542-6399 274 Ellington Hall Email [email protected] Knoxville, TN 37996, USA Phone (865) 974-0200 Fax (865) 974-3555 Email [email protected] ^term expires 2005 *term expires 2007

52 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 IBA Membership Application Please Complete Both Sides of Form. Mail or Fax to Address Below. Name______Affiliation______Address______City______State/Province______ZIP+4 or Postal Code______Country______Telephone______Fax______Email______❏ New ❏ Renewal ❏ Address Change ❏ You may share my membership information with similar organizations. MEMBERSHIP ❏ Standard Membership US$50.00/year, US$45.00/year for three or more years. Includes International Bear News & Ursus. # Years_____ US$______❏ Please donate my copy of Ursus to a library or deserving recipient. ❏ Institutional Membership US$100.00/year, US$250.00/three years. # Years_____ US$______❏ For those who cannot afford a Standard Membership, US$25.00/year.

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54 International Bear News February 2005 vol. 14, no. 1 IBA Publications Order Form Ursus Journal & IBA Conference Proceedings* Cost* Quantity Total 4th 1980 Montana 1977 $30.00 5th 1983 Wisconsin 1980 $30.00 6th 1986 Arizona 1983 $30.00 7th 1987 Virginia/Yugoslavia 1986 $35.00 8th 1990 British Columbia 1989 $40.00 9th (1) 1994 Montana 1992 $45.00 9th (2) 1997 France 1992 $25.00 10th 1998 Ursus-Alaska/Sweden '95 $40.00 11th 1999 Ursus 11 $45.00 12th 2001 Ursus 12 $45.00 13th 2002 Ursus 13 $45.00 14th 2003 Ursus 14 Volumes 1 & 2 $45.00 15th 2004 Ursus 15 Volumes 1 & 2 $45.00 16th 2005 Ursus 16 inc.w/ Std. Membership $45.00 *40% discount for 3 or more volumes, except Ursus 13, 14, 15 & 16. Less 40% Discount (-$) Eastern Black Bear Workshop Proceedings, USA 10th 1991 Arkansas 1990 $15.00 11th 1992 New Hampshire 1992 $15.00 13th 1996 Vermont 1996 $15.00 14th 1997 Mississippi 1997 $15.00 15th 2002 Massachusetts 1999 $15.00 16th 2001 2001 $15.00 Western Black Bear Workshop Proceedings, USA 1st 1979 Arizona 1979 $15.00 4th 1993 California 1991 $15.00 6th 2003 Washington 1997 $15.00 7th 2001 Oregon 2000 $15.00 Safety in Bear Country Videos Staying Safe in Bear Country $20.00 Staying Safe in Bear Country & Working in Bear Country $30.00 Staying Safe in Bear Country Public Performance Rights $69.00 Staying Safe in Bear Country/Working in Bear Country PPR $129.00

m legibly! Monographs of the IBA A Proposed Delineation of Critical Grizzly Bear Habitat in the Yellowstone Region (#1, 1977) By F. Craighead $10.00 The Status and Conservation of the Bears of the World (#2, 1989) By C. Servheen $10.00 Density-Dependent Population Regulation of Black, Brown and Polar Bears (#3, 1994) Edited by M. Taylor $10.00 Population Viability for Grizzly Bears: A Critical Review (#4, 2001) By M. Boyce, B. Blanchard, R. Knight, C. Servheen $10.00

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About the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) The International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) is a non-profit tax-exempt (USA tax # 94-3102570) organization open to professional biologists, wildlife managers and others dedicated to the conservation of all bear species. The organization has over 500 members from over 50 countries. It supports the scientific management of bears through research and distribution of information. The IBA sponsors international conferences on all aspects of bear biology, ecology and management. The proceedings are published as peer-reviewed scientific papers in the journal Ursus. IBA Mission Statement Goal: The goal of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) is to promote the conservation and restoration of the world’s bears through science-based research, management and education. Objectives: In support of this goal, IBA’s objectives are to: 1. Promote and foster well-designed research of the highest professional standards. 2. Develop and promote sound stewardship of the world’s bears through scientifically based population and habitat management. 3. Publish and distribute, through its conferences and publications, peer-reviewed scientific and technical information of high quality addressing broad issues of ecology, conservation and management. 4. Encourage communication and collaboration across scientific disciplines and among bear researchers and managers through conferences, workshops and newsletters. 5. Increase public awareness and understanding of bear ecology, conservation, and management by encouraging the translation of technical information into popular literature and other media, as well as through other educational forums. 6. Encourage the professional growth and development of our members. 7. Provide professional counsel and advice on issues of natural resource policy related to bear management and conservation. 8. Maintain the highest standards of professional ethics and scientific integrity. 9. Encourage full international participation in the IBA through the siting of conferences, active recruitment of interna- tional members and officers, and through financial support for international research, travel to meetings, member ships, and journal subscriptions. 10. Through its integrated relationship with the Bear Specialist Group of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)/Species Survival Commission, identify priorities in bear research and management and recruit project proposals to the IBA Grants Program that address these priorities. 11. Build an endowment and a future funding base to provide ongoing support for IBA core functions and for the IBA Grants Program. 12. Support innovative solutions to bear conservation dilemmas that involve local communities as well as national or regional governments and, to the extent possible, address their needs without compromising bear conservation, recogniz- ing that conservation is most successful where human communities are stable and can see the benefits of conservation efforts. 13. Form partnerships with other institutions to achieve conservation goals, where partnerships could provide additional funding, knowledge of geographical areas, or expertise in scientific or non-scientific sectors.

Deadline for the May 2005 issue is April 15, 2005 printed with soy-based ink on Vanguard Recycled Plus chlorine-free, acid-free, 10% hemp or flax, 90% post-consumer waste paper