Update on Polar Bear research in the Viscount Melville Sound/North Beaufort Polar Bear Subpopulations Spring 2012.

This was the first year of a three year mark-recapture program to estimate the current population size of the Viscount Melville Polar Bear Subpopulation. To examine movement patterns and population boundaries, we deployed 14 GPS satellite collars in the Viscount Melville Subpopulation and 15 collars in the North Beaufort Subpopulation; of the latter 15, 5 were deployed north of Norway Island and 10 in the area from Prince of Whales Strait to the mainland.

Two field crews were used to conduct research. One field crew worked out of Ulukhaktok. This crew consisted of Andrew Derocher (University of Alberta), Patrick Mislan(University of Alberta), and Kenneth Ehaloak (Ulukhaktok).

The second field crew worked from 5 base camps. Three base camps were polar bear cabins located at Wynniatt Bay on Victoria Island, Cape Providence on Melville Island, and near Castel Bay in Aulavik National Park on Banks Island. The two other camps were temporary base camps located at Mould Bay on Prince Patrick Island and Nias Point on Melville Island.

The second field crew consisted of a Helicopter pilot (Benedikt Seguro), a helicopter engineer (Scott Hauser) (required due to hrs flown), a research assistant from the community of Ulukhaktok (Peter Ross Klengenberg), Evan Richardson (Environment Canada), and Jodie Pongracz (ENR Inuvik).

Research commenced on April 21, 2012 in Wynniatt Bay, Victoria Island and was completed on May 31, 2012 at Polar Bear Cabin on Banks Island. A total of 110 hours were flown in an ASTAR (including ferrying to/from Inuvik). The larger Viscount Melville Polar Bear Subpopulation region was surveyed. Flight lines flown and capture locations are illustrated on the Map provided. The group experienced several weather days at both Cape Providence and Mould Bay which extended the field season beyond our previously expected duration.

A total of 40 bears were marked in the Viscount Melville Sound Subpopulation area. These bears were sighted in 24 groups (7 family groups, 4 mated pairs, 13 lone individuals; see tables for more info). Five of 7 family groups were COYs. Fourteen collars were deployed on adult female polar bears throughout the region (see map provided).

North Beaufort research was conducted while working from Mould Bay on Prince Patrick Island, and Polar Bear Cabin on Banks Island.

Five collars were deployed on adult female polar bears in the Northern Beaufort Subpopulation region north of Norway Island. Of the adult females, three were with COYs, one was a lone female, and one was with a male that had been previously handled (therefore he was not immobilized).

Overall, sea ice was consolidated in the Viscount Melville Sound. We saw one open crack – 1-2 feet wide in all of Viscount Melville Sound. There was a considerable amount of multiyear ice in central Viscount Melville Sound and Hecla and Gripper Bay. There were a few cracks starting to open up across Kellet Strait and Crozier channel in mid to late May. Areas covered west of Melville and south to Banks Island were primarily covered in annual ice. There was a large lead off the west coast of Prince Patrick Island that cut into M’Clure Strait.

During the Viscount Melville survey we also sighted 3 grizzly bears and what we believe to be 2 hybrid bears. The first grizzly bear sighted was with a hybrid and we were not able to capture them due to the circumstances/terrain. The second grizzly bear sighted was captured and appeared to be an old adult male in very good condition. This bear was captured 25 km out on the sea ice north of Clumber Pt, Victoria Island. Near Washington Islands in Glenelg Bay (south of Wynniatt Bay) we observed what we think was a young hybrid bear. We landed to prepare to capture this bear, however, local winds were very strong and the bear and its tracks disappeared. Unfortunately we were not able to relocate him/her. The third grizzly bear was sighted at the mouth of Mercy Bay, Banks Island and was DNA darted.

Acknowledgements: We would like to thank the Ekaluktutiak Hunters and Trappers Organization in Cambridge Bay, the Olokhatomiut Hunters and Trappers Committee in Ulukhaktok, and the Inuvialuit Game Council for supporting the project. Thanks to field assistants Ross Klengenberg and Kenneth Ehaloak. We would also like to thank Aboriginal and Northern Affairs, Environment Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Polar Continental Shelf, the Wildlife Management Advisory Committee (NWT), and the World Wildlife Fund for their financial contributions.

Groups of Polar Bears Viscount Number Melville Female with COYS 5 Female with YRLG 1 Female with 2YO 1 Mated Pairs 4 Lone female 5 Lone male 8 Total 24

Sex/Ageclassof Polar Bears Viscount Melville Ageclass Female Male Total Adult 14 10 24 Subadult 2 2 4 2YR 1 1 YRLG 1 1 2 COY 2 7 9 Total 19 21 40

Groups of Polar Bears North of Norway Number Island Female with COYS 3 Mated Pairs 1 Lone Female 1 Lone Male 1 Total 6

Sex/Ageclassof Polar Bears North of Norway Island Ageclass Female Male Total Adult 5 1 6 COY 2 3 5 Total 7 4 11

Figure 1: Track flown and polar bear capture locations

Figure 2: locations of collared bears

Figure 3: Capture locations of grizzly bears and hybrids