International Bear News Tri-Annual Newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) and the IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group Summer 2019 Vol. 28 no. 2 Bears with suspected mange (credit: Pennsylvania Game Commission). See page 26 for more on surveillance and management considerations for mange in black bears. IBA website: www.bearbiology.org Table of Contents INTERNATIONAL BEAR NEWS 3 International Bear News, ISSN #1064-1564 IBA PRESIDENT/IUCN BSG CO-CHAIRS 4 President’s Column COMMUNICATIONS 6 Bear Conservation Could Learn from the 33 Book: What Bears Teach Us – Invitation to Game of Thrones Contribute IBA MEMBER NEWS REVIEWS 8 2019 IBA Election Information 34 Book Review: Scientific English Writing: 10 Transition News How to Write Scientific Papers in English, by Malcolm Fitz-Earle, 2018 CONSERVATION 11 Fate of Orphaned Bears in Iran WORKSHOP REPORTS 13 Sun Bear Global Status Review and 35 Summary of the 24th Eastern Black Bear Conservation Action Plan Launched Workshop 15 Distribution and Conservation Status of Tien-Shan Brown Bear in the Kyrgyz CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENTS Republic 37 27th International Conference On Bear 18 Bear Release in Iraqi Kurdistan Must Stop Research & Management, September 21 – 25, 2020, Kalispell, Montana, United States HUMAN-BEAR CONFLICTS 20 Working for Andean Bear Conservation WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENTS in Peru: Joining Forces for Human–Bear 38 First International Workshop on Developing Conflict Reduction Population Monitoring Guidelines for Asian 22 Arrival of a Brown Bear on a Remote Island Bears November 4-8, 2019, Taipei, Taiwan of Hokkaido, Japan 38 Human-Bear Conflict Conference, October 4-7, 2021, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, United BIOLOGICAL RESEArcH States 24 Does a Bear Poop in the Road? A Call for 38 25th Eastern Black Bear Workshop, 2021. Greater Attention to the Influence of Wisconsin Forest Roads on a Large Carnivore’s Stress Response STUDENT FORUM 26 Surveillance and Management 39 Truman Listserv and Facebook Page Considerations for Mange in Black Bears PUBLICATIONS MANAGER’S CORNER 39 Recent Bear Literature 29 Multi-Agency Effort in Lake Tahoe to Streamline Response to Human-Bear IBA OFFICERS & COUNCIL Conflicts 45 Executive Council Members and Ex-Officio 30 Wildlife Human Attack Response Training Members (WHART) 31 Help with the Human Side of Human-Bear BSG EXPERT TEAM CHAIRS Conflicts 46 Bear Specialist Group Team Chairs 2 International Bear News Summer 2019, vol. 28 no. 2 Table of Contents International Bear News, ISSN #1064-1564 Tri-Annual newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management Editors: Mark Edwards (Managing Editor) Amy Macleod (Layout & Design) Merrill Maben (Proofing) Alpha Graphics, Bozeman, MT, USA (Printing and Distribution) Coordinated by: Jennapher Teunissen van Manen, 907 Jessie Way Bozeman, MT 59715 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bearbiology.org Back issues are available at www.bearbiology.org Editorial Policy International Bear News welcomes articles about biology, conservation, and management of the world’s eight bear species. Submissions of about 750 words are preferred, and photos, drawings, and charts are appreciated. Submissions to regional correspondents by email are preferred; otherwise, mail or fax to the address above. IBA reserves the right to accept, reject, and edit submissions. Correspondents: Western US and Canada: Carrie Lowe, Email: [email protected] Eastern US and Canada: Jared Laufenberg, Email: [email protected] Central and South America: Marco Enciso, Email:[email protected] Europe: Stefanie Franke, Email: [email protected] Central Asia: Tatjana Rosen, Email: [email protected] Zoo and Captive Bear Organizations: Jordan Schaul, Email:[email protected] Bear Specialist Group: Dave Garshelis, Email:[email protected] Manager’s Corner: Carl Lackey, Email: [email protected] All other submission and/or inquiries: Mark Edwards, Email: [email protected] Consult website for submission guidelines. Deadline for the Fall 2019 issue is 05 October 2019. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue. Artwork is copyrighted – Do not reproduce without permission. For Membership Information and Publication Ordering Go to www.bearbiology.com to order or renew memberships, make donations, and/or update member information. The use of the IBA logo at the end of The use of the BSG logo at the end of The use of the IBA-BCF logo at the an article indicates articles submit- an article indicates articles submitted beginning of an article signifies ted via the IBA regional correspon- via the Bear Specialist Group. work that was supported, at least in dents and the IBN editorial staff. part, by the Bear Conservation Fund through an IBA grant. International Bear News Summer 2019, vol. 28 no. 2 3 IBA President President’s Column Andreas Zedrosser Institute for Natural Sciences and Environmental Health University College of Southeast Norway Pb. 235, N-3603 Kongsberg, Norway Email: [email protected] The major challenges facing bears… Most IBA members will remember the 2016 Strategic Membership Survey. Although the results of this survey were presented at the IBA conference in Anchorage, Alaska, USA, in 2016, some of the insights from this survey are worthwhile re-visiting. We received 125 anonymous responses, or a 20.3% (based on 616 members) return rate. One of the most impor- tant questions was “What are the 3 major challenges facing bears and their ecosystems in your research area in the next decade?”. Answers varied widely, ranging from global issues, such as climate change to very local issues, such as pressure from emotional environmental groups. However, some very clear trends were obvious. The 4 major challenges (≥ 20% support among respondents) facing bears and their ecosystems in the next decade according to IBA members are habitat degrada- tion (73%), human-bear conflicts (49%), climate change (31%), and illegal trade in bear parts and poaching (29%). Not surprisingly, habitat degradation and loss were recognized by the vast majority of the respondents as the most im- portant challenge facing bears in the future. As one respondent eloquently formulated: “Habitat loss! This is a problem just about everywhere. Of particular concern is habitat loss in developing countries, due to expansion of agriculture and human harvest of timber products, legally and illegally.” Habitat degradation and loss, and climatic change are maybe the most important challenges facing almost all mammals. Due to their charismatic image and their large space requirements, bears are excellent model species to understand and find potential solutions for these challenges that benefit not just bears, but also many other species. In general, human-wildlife conflicts are a major management and conservation issue. Due to the fact that bears can and sometimes do injure or kill people, they present a special challenge. Another issue specific to bears, and a few other mam- mals, is their value as animal pharmacy. The healing powers assigned to bear gall bladders leads to poaching of wild animals and the farming of bears, often under horrible conditions. …and how IBA was asked to assist members in their work to face these challenges. The logical follow-up to the question on major challenges facing bears was “How can IBA be of more direct assistance to you in your work?” A wide variety of answers were provided, however, the 3 major forms of assistance (≥ 20% support) members suggested were financial (30%), improvement of internal communication among members (27%), and that IBA should become a more pro-active authority and leader on bear-related topics (20%). In general, respondents seemed to struggle with finding funds for bear-related research as well as for conference atten- dance. A respondent stated: “Financial support is always a limiting factor, so of course more opportunities for funding are welcome.” Respondents generally understand and support that most grant and travel support go to “developing” countries, however, some respondents also pointed out the need for increased funding opportunities available to managers and researchers in North America. As you’ve likely read in our monthly email updates, Council has begun the process to hire an Executive Director. One of the main responsibilities for the Executive Director will be to increase IBA fundraising activities and by extension, increase the grants program. Very recently Council also adopted a Strategic Plan that aims to add regional strategies and priorities in all parts of the world. The goal is to allow grant applicants to be assessed based on regional needs and priorities so that members from North America or western Europe are not competing for funds with members in South America, Asia, or eastern Europe. More details on this plan will be provided in the next President’s column. A response that nicely summarizes how IBA should go about communication: “Communication, communication, com- munication. Provide ways to find out what colleagues are learning, communicate with them, info on what works and what doesn’t, the recent bear literature in IBN is excellent, etc.”. As for steps that are on the way to better communication, in addition to our conferences, Ursus and IBN, IBA has a Facebook page and has created a new and more interactive website. Our Director of Transition and new IBA Communication Team (Jennapher Teunissen van Manen, Agnieszka Sergiel, and Alexander Kopatz) recently started to provide monthly updates and eblasts with information on the latest IBA activities and news. These eblasts have resulted in much positive feedback and interactions between IBA and its membership, but also 4 International Bear News Summer 2019, vol. 28 no. 2 IBA President among members. An excellent example is the eBlast that was sent out in June about the proposed Pebble Mine project in southwest Alaska, USA. In response to the eBlast two members that have projects in the area contacted IBA and were able to collaborate with Council and other IBA members that were in the process of preparing an official letter for comment on the proposed project.