International Bear News Quarterly Newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) and the IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2

Council News 2 From the President: International Concerns, San Diego Meetings, Students & San Diego, Slovenia Hunting & U.S. Bear Baiting, IBA & BSG 4 IBA Elections: Call for Nominations 5 Ursus Website & Volume 14 6 IBA Grants Program Report Eurasia 7 The Sun & Moon in Thailand 8 The Sad State of Sun & Moon Bears in Vietnam 9 Sun Bear Research on the Web 10 The Geographical Ecology of the Kamchatka Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) 11 Cubs in Sweden on Internet North America 11 Fischbach New Kodiak Bear Biologist 11 Alaska Bear Festival a Success 12 North Pacific Rim Brown Bear Management 14 Oregon Bear Hunting 14 Bear Shepherds in the North Cascades 16 Be Bear Aware Campaign 16 Panel Endorses British Columbia Grizzly Bear Conservation 17 Louisiana Black Bear Restoration 17 Florida Update 19 SABBSG Plans Regional DNA Sampling 19 17th Eastern Black Bear Workshop Summary Rehabilitation 20 Rehabilitation & Release of Two Black Bears, Alberta, Canada 21 Brown Bear Rehabilitation at Toropetsky Biological Station Student Forum 24 Truman—Student List Serve & Truman Lives! 24 Drinking From a Different Well, Funding Your Project Bears in Culture 26 Hopi & Bears Publications 28 Ursus Website & Volume 14 28 Bear Action Plan PDF 29 Resolution of the Second Brown & Asian Bear Symposium Information Please 28 Need Brown Bear Images Events 30 15th IBA Conference: Call for Papers IBA 32 IBA Contact Information 33 IBA Membership Application 35 IBA Publications Order Form Back Cover About IBA & Mission Statement

IBA website: www.bearbiology.org/www.bearbiology.com Council News From the President

Harry Reynolds ideas with us. Ways to achieve more between our two organizations. Alaska Department of Fish and Game diverse representation in the Council Money raised by the students will 1300 College Road can be accomplished through the help subsidize future attendance to Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA electoral process, through appoint- conferences and IBA memberships Phone (907) 459-7238 ments, or a combination of the two. for those who cannot afford them. Fax (907) 451-9723 Again, think about this during the Donations can include the opportu- Email upcoming nominations and voting nity to accompany field researchers [email protected] process (see page 4). during den examination or to work The cost of IBA membership can be with positive reinforcement of Looking out my window in Alaska, prohibitively high in many countries. captive bears to gather physiological the first Canada geese are arriving It is often only through donations data. Keep this in mind when after an absence of almost seven from you that membership is possible students ask for donations. months, and I just watched a red fox for many people (use the form on page prance by in the field next door. The 33 to donate a membership). Electronic Newsletter snow is melting and adult male We received only 11 responses to brown bears have been out of their San Diego Meetings the question about providing the dens for several weeks. By the time Workshops sponsored by the newsletter in PDF format. Therefore, you read this, last year’s pregnant American Zoo and Aquarium Asso- we will continue to offer hard copy. females will have emerged from ciation Bear Taxon Advisory Group Back issues of the newsletter are available seven months in winter dens fol- and an inter-agency group to address as PDFs at www.bearbiology.com. lowed by tiny cubs. Life is good for bear-human conflicts will be held bears in my world. immediately prior to the 15th IBA Slovenia Hunting & Life is not as good for bears in many conference in San Diego, February U.S. Bear Baiting other habitats around the world. IBA 2004 (see page 30). Exchange IBA Council recently provided members dedicate their lives to between captive and wild bear written testimony on two conserva- conserve what is left of bear habitat research has been underutilized and tion issues. IBA encouraged the and to ensure that future generations offers advantages to both disci- government of Slovenia, through the of bears remain integral parts of plines—consider exploring what European Union, to reconsider a ecosystems where they now exist. This each has to offer and how it might plan that sets brown bear harvests is our charge and ethical responsibility benefit your individual interests. too high. The best scientific estimate and among the reasons we have come Please note the San Diego call for of sustainable yield indicates that together as an association. papers on page 30. The deadline for Slovenian’s proposed harvest would abstracts is 15 September 2003. result in substantial decline in the International Concerns country’s brown bear population. We are an international organiza- Students & San Diego IBA Eurasian Vice President Jon tion, but the majority of our mem- Student Coordinator Diana Doan- Swenson and Council member Djuro bers are in the U.S. and Canada. We Crider and students wordwide will be Huber, representing the IBA, are have a smaller but growing contin- organizing a student forum for the meeting with Slovenian government gent of members in Eurasia and Latin conference. In addition, students will officials to help resolve this problem. America, where most of the world’s be working with the American Zoo Council voted to oppose proposed bear species live and where bear and Aquarium Association Bear legislation that would ban baiting of populations are often in decline. IBA Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) to hold American black bears on U.S. federal Council has spent considerable time a silent auction the evening before lands (H.R. 1472). This ignores state discussing ways in which we can the conference. This is a long- black bear management regulations improve international representation standing and successful fundraising that have enabled black bear popula- in both membership and leadership tradition for the Bear TAG and they tions to thrive in all jurisdictions roles. You can look forward to have agreed to work with students where baiting is allowed. Closely discussion of various approaches to for this effort. Items donated by Bear regulated use of baiting as a hunting accomplish this goal in an upcoming TAG and IBA members will be technique can reduce human-bear newsletter. Meanwhile, share your auctioned and the proceeds split conflicts; can limit the types of bait

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 2 Council News

used; can lower rates of wounding bears, sun bears, and a team for trade ment of in-kind matching support losses; can provide more humane in bears and bear parts. Our goal is to and monetary donations. quick kills; and can allow hunters to have each Expert Team chaired or co- IBA is composed of strictly avoid killing females with cubs. chaired by residents of the region volunteer members, but the where individual species exist. There expertise and dedication of our IBA & BSG will also be a Coordination Commit- members represents an enormous With the concurrence of the tee to support and coordinate reservoir of talent to accomplish IUCN’s (World Conservation Union) information/program/funding efforts our goals. IBA maintains about Species Survival Commission (SSC), for the eight Expert Teams. This $80,000 +/- $30,000 in its treasury. the Bear Specialist Group (BSG) committee will also serve to address Our primary expenditures are maintains a close affiliation with conservation issues for North publication of Ursus, IBA’s journal; IBA. This connection was established American brown bears and American printing our newsletter, Interna- because IBA includes most of the black bears, both of which are tional Bear News; holding confer- world’s bear specialists among almost relatively secure on a continental ences and workshops; and funding 800 members from 47 countries. In basis. conservation projects. The IBA 2001, SSC directed IBA to select the The Expert Team chairs/co-chairs Grants Program prefers projects in BSG Chair. Subsequently, the IBA and the Coordination Committee developing countries and those Council voted to appoint the IBA have been selected. Members for the where our small amount of money President as BSG Chair, with the IBA Andean bear, European brown bear, can make the greatest difference for Past President as BSG Vice Chair to sloth bear, sun bear and bear trade conservation. provide continuity. teams have been selected. Other The IBA has an Economic IUCN/SSC agreed to this arrange- teams are progressing toward that Development Committee, whose ment because of the overlap in goal. members include both biologists function between IBA and the BSG. The first task of the Expert Teams and successful business people. This It was also in recognition that IBA is to re-evaluate action plans to list committee’s charge is to establish holds regular meetings about world- all research, management, conserva- an endowment fund to provide wide bear conservation, ecology, tion, and education measures that more funding for IBA and BSG research and management. Ursus, our need to be considered for their objectives. The initial goal is to annual scientific journal, and species/region of responsibility. Their raise $300,000, to fund projects International Bear News, our newslet- second task will be to assign each most likely to achieve meaningful ter, both serve as official BSG publi- measure a priority for conservation conservation success and to further cations. These are all functions that importance. These ratings will be our mission. As these efforts are SSC requires of specialist groups. based on global bear conservation, successful, much greater support by Beginning with the next IBA/BSG efficacy, and feasibility given avail- individuals and corporations is conference in San Diego in February able funding sources. The updated likely. Your involvement and 2004, all conferences will include priorities for action will help bring suggestions for improving our working meetings of the Bear international attention to bear effectiveness to meet our goals are Specialist Group. conservation including the need for welcome. Contact me or any The BSG includes all bear species specific programs and funding to member of Council (contact except the polar bear, which has its accomplish them. IBA’s Grants information on page 32) to volun- own specialist group. Past BSG efforts Program Committee will use the teer or make comments. focused on producing the IUCN priorities to assist their review and Status Survey and Conservation Action funding of conservation and research Plan, compiled by C. Servheen, S. projects. The most funding available Herrero and B. Peyton. to the grants program was US$37,000 The newly re-organized BSG is for 2003 (see page 6). Clearly, more is composed of eight Expert Teams: one needed. Strengthening ties between each for Andean bears, Asiatic black IBA and BSG should increase support bears, brown bears in Europe, brown for bear conservation and research bears in Asia, giant pandas, sloth internationally and foster commit-

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 3 Council News IBA Election: Call for Nominations

Bruce McLellan their agreement that they will run Council Job Descriptions British Columbia Forest Service for office and serve if elected before The elected Council conducts the Research Branch submitting their name(s) to the business of the IBA and it is therefore RPO #3, Box 9158 Nominations Committee. All candi- important that a variety of dedicated Revelstoke, B.C. V0E 3K0, Canada dates must be IBA members. The members run for these positions. So Phone (250) 837-7767 Nominations Committee will IBA members are familiar with the Fax (250) 837-7626 provide a list of current candidates in duties and workload of each posi- Email [email protected] the August newsletter. Nominations tion, the current Council offer these are open until November 8, 2003. guidelines. Nominations Candidate statements for the ballot The Council includes five officers: The IBA Nominations Committee are also due by November 8, 2003. President, Vice President-Americas, invites all IBA members to nominate Candidate statements and ballots Vice President-Eurasia, Secretary and themselves or others to run for office will be mailed to IBA members in Treasurer; and six Council members, in the IBA. Being an officer in the December 2003. five elected by the membership plus IBA provides you with an additional The Nominations Committee is the Past President. The elected and important means to help Bruce McLellan, Chair Council may appoint up to two advance the management of bears ([email protected]), additional members to obtain better around the world. The IBA will only Sterling Miller ([email protected]), Djuro geographic representation on Council. be a successful organization if we Huber ([email protected]), and Teresa Councillor continue to get committed and DeLorenzo ([email protected]). The primary job of a Councillor is competent people to run for office. See page 32 for complete contact to understand, comment on, and Persons nominated for these posi- information for Nominations Commit- propose issues of IBA policy and tions must be IBA members, agree to tee members. positions. Council members should run for office, and actively contrib- Election results will be announced be familiar with the IBA bylaws and ute if elected. at the February 2004 conference in San mission statement and use these as Offices open during this election Diego and new officers will begin guidelines in voting on issues are President, Americas Vice Presi- serving their terms at that meeting. brought before the Council. Council dent, Secretary, Treasurer, and four members should have access to email seats on Council. All positions are and respond promptly with their elected for three-year terms. Job comments and votes. Council descriptions follow. The Americas members should be able to attend at Vice-President must be from North, least one and preferably all of the Central or South America. The regularly scheduled conferences of Treasurer must live in the U.S. the IBA. Council members should (because of the need to comply with also be willing to serve on standing tax-reporting requirements for IBA as IBA committees when asked (e.g. a U.S. non-profit, tax-exempt nominations, publications, publica- corporation). Nominees for other tion sales, conferences, grant review, positions can live anywhere in the development, etc.). A Councillor world and the Nominations Commit- should be prepared to spend at least tee encourages persons from under- two hours per week on IBA issues. represented areas to run for office. If Vice Presidents a geographically diverse slate of The duties of the Vice Presidents candidates is not elected, Council are the same as those of Councillor may appoint up to two additional with the addition of acting for the members to help achieve geographic President on occasions when the balance on Council. President is unavailable. The Vice Any IBA member may volunteer to Presidents should be prepared to run for any of these offices. If you spend at least two hours per week, nominate someone, you must obtain but at times significantly more. The

© Joan Skidmore

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 4 Council News Ursus Website and Volume 14

Vice Presidents should be prepared to managing assets in mutual funds, Rich Harris be especially involved in issues certificates of deposits and other Editor, Ursus throughout their respective geographic accounts. Finally, the Treasurer 218 Evans areas—Americas and Eurasia. ensures that the IBA’s U.S. non- Missoula, Montana, USA 59801 Secretary profit, tax-exempt status is main- Phone & Fax (406) 542-6399 In addition to the duties described tained; this requires filing an annual Email [email protected] for the Councillor, the Secretary is a tax return on behalf of the IBA. The primary contact for the membership Treasurer can hire accountants and IBA’s scientific journal, Ursus, now has and the public, and thus answers other assistants to handle certain its own website: www.ursusjournal.com. questions about IBA, its functions, tasks. Because of the need to file U.S. Ursus volume 14, number 1 will membership, policies, publications, tax returns, the Treasurer should be soon be in the mail. See page 28 for website, etc. The Secretary is respon- based in the U.S. This is an impor- its contents. Membership now sible for updating the membership tant job that may require ten hours includes both the newsletter and database, and providing mailing per week. Ursus. Use the form on page 33 to labels for the newsletter. The Secre- President join IBA and receive both. tary archives information such as In addition to duties described for past minutes, decisions/votes/ the Councillors, the President policies, copies of newsletters, oversees the overall function of IBA, conference bids, travel grant re- chairs meetings, and coordinates quests, etc.; drafts minutes; and discussions by Council. After suitable coordinates with the webmaster. This discussion, the President may call for is an important job that may require and record votes. The President has ten hours per week. primary responsibility for obtaining Treasurer bids to host upcoming IBA confer- In addition to the duties described ences. The President is often the for the Councillor, the Treasurer is major spokesperson for the IBA and responsible for maintaining all is a primary contact for the member- financial records of the IBA including ship, other professional organiza- records of all receipts and payments. tions, and the public. The President The Treasurer processes and deposits writes a column for the newsletter, the large volume of receipts from and prepares comments and letters membership dues, publication sales, on issues relevant to the IBA or bears and charges relating to Ursus includ- in general. In cooperation with the ing processing credit card orders. The Secretary, the President maintains a Treasurer works with the editor of record of correspondence. The Ursus to issue and track invoices for President is currently Chair of the page charges and reprint orders. The Bear Specialist Group of the IUCN/ Treasurer also issues checks for SSC, but this task will likely be special grants and donations (such as transferred. The President oversees the IBA Grants Program). The existing committees and has the Treasurer pays all bills relating to IBA ability to create and appoint commit- business, such as payments to tees that will, under his authority, contractors, newsletter costs, confer- deal with certain IBA tasks. A ence contributions, and other comprehensive job can demand expenses. The Treasurer provides fifteen hours per week and the Council with an annual financial workload is relatively consistent over accounting of revenues and expenses the term. by category and projections of anticipated expenses and income. The treasurer is responsible for

© Joan Skidmore

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 5 Council News IBA Grants Program Report

Fred Dean funds will continue to grow and 5. Proposal forms may be down- Chair, IBA Grants Program Committee make it possible to fund more loaded from the IBA website, 810 Ballaine Road projects from parts of the world that www.bearbiology.com; these may be Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, USA seem to be less critical and thus have used directly or as a model. Phone (907) 479-6607 received relatively less IBA grant The committee again extends its Email [email protected] support. thanks to all of those who have Anyone interested in submitting a supported the program making it The Grants Program Committee proposal in the 2003-2004 review possible to increase the number of received 31 proposals during this cycle should follow the guidelines projects supported. A PowerPoint review cycle. The combined requests listed below. presentation is in development for funding totaled nearly $200,000. 1. All proposals should be submit- which should assist the Economic The committee had $36,980 avail- ted electronically unless this is really Development Committee in its able from the John Sheldon Bevins impossible. fundraising work. Foundation ($12,750) and other 2. Submitters should send all It takes a significant time commit- donations ($24,230). The challenge documents in MS Word format, ment to review all of these proposals. grant contributed anonymously by a Adobe pdf, or in a format that can be Committee members Todd Fuller, major donor and the gifts from those converted to MS Word easily such as Jörg Rauer, Jon Swenson and Gordon who helped exceed the challenge plain ASCII text. Please do not use Warburton all deserve many thanks made a great difference in our ability WordPerfect. for a lot of work. Fuller and to support projects around the world. 3. Proposals may be submitted at Warburton have been with the See the table below for a summary of any time; they will be held for the committee since 1993! grants awarded. next review. Normally there will be Progress reports from grant The committee again has placed only one review each year. The recipients will appear in this newslet- highest priority on those species, review will begin shortly after the ter on a continuing basis. See page populations and regions deemed to start of the calendar year. 10 for a report on the Kamchatka be in need of the greatest help. This 4. All proposals must be received bear study which received IBA grant has meant that many, many excel- before midnight on 31 December. funds. lent proposals were not funded by Any received after that will be held IBA. We hope that the program’s for the next year’s review.

IBA Grants Program: 2003 Grants

Name Student? Species Location Topic Amount

Tremarctos Habitat use, home range, activity Armando Castellanos No ornatus Ecuador - Imbabura patterns $5,000

Glen Contreras No All Worldwide Travel grant supplement $5,000

Genetic monitoring of small Marta DeBarba Ph.D. Ursus arctos Italy - Alps population $4,500

Cambodia, Laos, Mitochondrial map for southeast Gary Galbreath No Ursus thibetanus Thailand Asia $4,600

Tremarctos Distribution, habitat selection, & Shaenandhoa Garcia-Rangel Ph.D. ornatus Venezuela landscape use $4,000

Bernhard Gutleb No Ursus thibetanus Iran Distribution and status $5,000

Ecology and status in 2 national Shyamala Ratnayeke No Melursus ursinus Sri Lanka parks $5,000

Ximena Velez-Liendo Ph.D. Tremarctos Bolivia Habitat fragmentation in the $3,750 ornatus Bolivian Tropical Andes

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 6 Eurasia The Sun and Moon in Thailand

Rob Steinmetz The terms mixed deciduous forest In order to provide a broader WWF-Thailand Program Office (MDF) and semi-evergreen forest context in which to assess my main Asian Institute of Technology (SEF) may not be familiar to many focal habitats of SEF and MDF, last PO Box 4, Klong Luang people, because these forest types are month my team and I ascended the Patumthani, 12120, Thailand unique to mainland Southeast Asia highest mountain range in Thung Phone (662) 524-6128 and parts of India, and have received Yai (1,811 m) to establish a study Email [email protected] comparatively little attention from site. I accomplished much less than researchers. MDF and SEF often occur hoped as much time was spent Bear research in Thailand has been together in complex mosaics deter- scouting around and we ran out of underway for over one year now, mined by soil, topography and food early, but the bear transects we within the Thung Yai Naresuan aspect. Unlike evergreen rain forests did complete were worth the effort. I Wildlife Sanctuary, located along the characteristic of regions closer to the found that bear-tree density was Thai-Burma border. The work is equator, MDF and SEF occur where high, with a mean of almost 40 trees producing a picture of habitat use annual rainfall is lower, and un- per ha. This figure is similar to bear- and feeding ecology of sun bears and evenly dispersed due to a long dry tree densities at some of my SEF sites, moon bears, mainly through study of season. but in contrast to SEF, bear-tree their signs in different forest types. As part of my research in Thung species in the montane forest are Some key ecological and method- Yai, I am establishing 1-2 ha standard heavily concentrated in a few ological questions I am investigating vegetation plots in MDF and SEF, in families—notably Fagaceae, in this project include: which trees of 10 cm dbh and larger Lauraceae and Theaceae. One of the (1) What is the relationship are measured and identified. This common bear-trees in the latter between density of bear signs work will help quantify tree species family turned out to be a new record (especially claw marks on trees since composition, density and population for this part of Thailand, Camellia these are by far the most common structure, and I will be especially colorata. signs encountered) and bear abun- interested in aspects that are impor- The most exciting result from my dance? tant for bears, such as density and research in this remote and beautiful (2) What is the relationship variability of bear-tree species. These forest type, however, was what I did between species of trees climbed and forest types represent two of the not find: sun bear signs. Preliminary bear feeding ecology or behavior three major plant communities that results in MDF and SEF suggest that (climbing for food? rest?). characterize mainland Southeast Asia moon bears and sun bears occur in (3) Can claw marks on trees be (the other is dry dipterocarp forest), the same habitats at the same places, “aged,” to interpret deposition rate and I hope the present research will though moon bears are less abun- for example, or correlation with improve our understanding of how dant. Above about 1,100 m how- fruiting phenology? they function as habitats for bears in ever—in montane evergreen forest— (4) Can sun bears and moon bears this poorly known region. only moon bear signs were found. be differentiated based on character- So far I have spent most of my This is the first indication I have istics of the claw marks they leave on time in MDF and SEF because they seen that suggests any habitat trees? are the dominant forest types in the segregation between these species, Preliminary results show the mean wildlife sanctuary. There are two but cautious interpretation of these density of climbed trees (“bear- other forest types present that results is in order because the data trees”) in different habitats ranges deserve mention: montane evergreen come from just one site, and work on from about 10/ha in mixed decidu- forest and savanna. These are much species identification from signs is ous forest, to 30-40/ha in denser less extensive within Thung Yai, and still preliminary. semi-evergreen forest. Bears are generally throughout mainland climbing over 60 tree species from 30 Southeast Asia as well, but recent families in semi-evergreen forest, and investigation suggests that at least about 40 species from 20 families in montane evergreen forest may be the less species-rich mixed deciduous significant for bears. forest.

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 7 Eurasia The Sad State of Sun and Moon Bears in Vietnam

© Gabriella Fredriksson Caged Sun Bear in Vietnam

Gabriella Fredriksson Last month I paid a first visit to of live bears as well as bear parts (and Institute for Biodiversity and Vietnam and was quite taken aback a myriad of other wildlife products) Ecosystem Dynamics by the bear conservation situation to China is also reported to be University of Amsterdam there. The large number of bears actively ongoing. The practice of Van Breestraat 10 held in captivity in Hanoi and other keeping bears for their bile in 1071 ZP Amsterdam, Netherlands places throughout the country, and Vietnam differs substantially from Phone +31-20-6704870 the quick turnover of bears reflects the large government and private Fax +31-20-6203419 the high pressures on the remaining farms in China where hundreds of or wild populations. Jill Robinson from bears are kept in one farm (see also— PO Box 270 the Animal Asia Foundation (http:// http://www.wspa.ca/ Balikpapan 76110 www.animalsasia.org) reported that thebearbilebusiness.html). In Kalimantan Timur in Hanoi alone, at least 700 bears Vietnam the practice is scattered and Indonesia are in captivity and other estimates small numbers of bears are kept in Fax +62 541-203049 report that at least 2,000-4,000 bears tiny cages in backyards of individual Email [email protected] are being kept for bile extraction homes. In Hanoi bears can still be throughout Vietnam—with the found in small cages in restaurants- industry still expanding. Smuggling being “live” tapped during dinner for

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 8 Eurasia Sun Bear Research on the Web

their bile. Whereas in China the vation issues in mainland Southeast Siew Te Wong main bear species used for the bile is Asia. Indeed many other species are Wildlife Biology Program the moon bear, in Vietnam the ratio much closer to the brink of extinc- School of Forestry of sun bears is much higher. tion and have far smaller distribution University of Montana Recently the moon bear was ranges, but it seems clear that this Missoula, MT 59812, USA placed in “group I protection” lack of interest in bear conservation Email [email protected] (highest protection status in Viet- could soon result in the extirpation nam) joining the sun bear, which of wild populations in Vietnam and My master’s thesis on the ecology of had already been fully protected Laos. With the current rate of bear the Malayan sun bear is available at since 1992. This now makes hunting, hunting on the mainland of South- http://www.carnivoreconservation.org. keeping and exploitation of both east Asia, there is also a fear that Several photos of sun bears taken bear species for the bile industry demand for bear products will shift from camera traps can be also illegal. The subsequent problem to Indonesia, where presently the downloaded. coming up now is what to do with bear trade is still in its infancy. This research project could not the thousands of bears held in A more active dialogue between have been done without the support, captivity? Already the Forest Protec- the IBA and other relevant organiza- guidance, help, hard work and tion Departments from a number of tions should be initiated concerning dedication of many people. Thanks districts have been questioning what the Southeast Asian bear bile trade to everyone who helped. to do with these bears. Should and hunting issues, which should I hope you find the information certain bears be released? Who is result in recommendations and clear interesting and useful for the conser- going to fund and manage the large action plans. In the very near future vation of this little known bear. number of rescue centers which new conservation-related activities would be required? How is the and basic surveys should be set up in demand going to be curbed? How several countries within the range of will this affect the remaining wild the sun and moon bears. bear populations? Hunting levels in The IBA/BSG Sun Bear Expert Vietnam are extremely high and it Team would like to further this topic seems that all wildlife species are and rekindle the dialogue. Please being targeted—both for the huge contact me at the address above or medicinal trade as well as for Siew Te Wong bushmeat. Interviews about the Wildlife Biology Program presence of bears in villages close to School of Forestry remaining forest fragments in the University of Montana north of the country were met with Missoula, MT 59812, USA, surprise as populations had dwindled Email [email protected] greatly. I was told that an animal if you have information to share or which is worth more than one year’s would like to become involved. wages is of course a prime target, regardless of the enhanced legal status of the bears. It has also become clear that very few organizations or researchers are focusing specifically on bear conser-

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 9 Eurasia The Geographical Ecology of the Kamchatka Brown Bear (Ursus arctos)

William B. Leacock Do landscape-based models DNA was successfully extracted Southwest Alaska Network incorporating “permeability” or from tissue samples of nearly 300 National Park Service favorability of the landscape offer a bears. Nineteen microsatellite loci 2525 Gambell St. satisfactory explanation for this were amplified from these 300 tissue Anchorage, AK 99503, USA geographic structure? samples. Phone (907) 257-2634 Do genetic diversity levels vary Goals for Next Year Email [email protected] across the peninsula? Habitat: Develop a logistic Does skull morphology vary across regression model incorporating The project includes: (1) an the peninsula? measures of heterogeneity, associa- investigation into habitat selection Are these patterns concordant tions among habitat types, intersper- patterns of radio-collared brown with genetic patterns? sion, distances to salmon spawning bears in the South Kamchatka Habitat Selection streams, distances to Pinus pumilla, Sanctuary, and (2) an examination of We captured and fitted eleven adult Vaccinium, and Empetrum stands, and population differentiation, genetic bears with GPS-ARGOS collars and topographic features to compare diversity, and the systematics of the monitored them over three years. used versus unused habitat. Compare Kamchatka brown bear and the Landsat thematic mapper satellite this model to a logistic regression influence of landscape factors on images were digitized, and model based on a more simplistic these patterns. georectified. Seventy-five percent of conventional approach in which Various landcover databases and the data (app. 13,500 pixels) collected habitat is defined as the dominant maps were developed for the South from field training sites, videography, cover type around a radio-location. Kamchatka Sanctuary. Accuracy rates and a declassified reconnaissance Develop a landcover map for the of 85% were achieved. DNA was photograph were incorporated into entire Kamchatka Peninsula. extracted from over three hundred numerous models to create landscape Genetics: Extract and run sequences bear tissue samples. Mitochondrial databases and maps. Models limited to and microsatellites for about 25 of the DNA was sequenced and haplotypes twelve land classes were found to be 45 additional tissue samples. identified for nearly three hundred most informative. The remaining 25% Analyze microsatellite and sequence bears. Nineteen microsatellite loci of the data (app. 4,500 pixels) was used data and develop a best model(s). were amplified and gels were run for to test the accuracy of the databases. Three models will be explored and nearly three hundred bears. Radio-locations for four bears were compared for determining genetic Primary Research Questions incorporated into the landcover structure and population differentia- Do more complex models that database. Radio-locations from the tion from microsatellite data address landscape mosaic patterns, remaining seven bears are being Collaborators such as measures of heterogeneity, entered into the database. Collaborators on this project interspersion, habitat associations, Skull Morphology include Alexander Valentsev, etc., better explain habitat use Morphological measurements were Kamchatka Institute of Ecology and patterns than more conventional made on 86 bear skulls from mu- Nature Management, Petropavlovsk- habitat use models based solely on seum specimens collected through- Kamchastky, Russia; Ilya dominant landcover type? out the Kamchatka Peninsula. Shevchenko, Kamchatka Institute of Do microsatellite data from Genetics Ecology and Nature Management, Kamchatka brown bears reveal Leacock and Valentsev collected Petropavlovsk-Kamchastky, Russia; population differentiation or pan- nearly 450 tissue samples from Lisette Waits, University of Idaho, mixia across the landscape? Kamchatka brown bears either Moscow, Idaho, USA. Do landscape-based models captured during the project or har- IBA Grant incorporating “permeability” or vested by hunters during the years This project received support from favorability of the landscape offer a 2000-2001 from known locations. the IBA Grants Program (see page 6). satisfactory explanation for this Valentsev collected an additional 45 geographic structure? tissue samples in 2002, half of which Do mtDNA data of Kamchatka came from the northern Kamchatka brown bears reveal population Peninsula—an area not adequately differentiation across the landscape? sampled in previous years.

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 10 North America Cubs in Sweden Alaska Alaska on Internet Bear Festival a Success

Alaska news provided by: George Matz Steven Kovach Email [email protected] Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Phone (907) 345-3139 PO Box 346 Bethel, AK 99559, USA Homer, Alaska was the venue for Phone (907) 543-1023 the Fifth Alaska Bear Festival, 28-29 Fax (907) 543-4413 March 2003, at the local high Email [email protected] school’s Mariner Theater. The theme for this year’s festival “A Look at Bear Alaskans, send your news to the Viewing” was appropriate given that address above. Homer is considered the bear Press release, Orsa Grönklitt, Sweden. viewing capital of Alaska (if not the Predator enthusiasts have a new world). Although there are no bear opportunity to follow life in a bear Fischbach New viewing areas within Homer, many den via the internet. For the second guided bear viewing trips to the west year, a web camera is recording one Kodiak Bear Biologist side of Cook Inlet (e.g., Katmai of the bear dens at Orsa Grönklitt in National Park, McNeil River State Sweden, one of Europe’s largest bear Tony Fischbach reported to the Game Sanctuary) originate here. parks. The web camera will follow Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge The forum part of the event the mother bear Ebba and her cubs’ (KNWR) in November 2002 as the included a review of bear manage- movements and development until refuge’s new bear biologist. KNWR had ment issues on the Kenai Peninsula they leave the bear den in spring. been without a bear biologist since the and Kodiak Island by Jeff Selinger, Bear researches will soon know how retirement of Vic Barnes (who actually Alaska Department of Fish and Game many cubs Ebba has. When they are worked for U.S. Fish and Wildlife (ADF&G) biologist, and Leslie Kerr, born they are no bigger than a Service’s research division and later for Refuge Manager, Kodiak National squirrel and lie tight against their the USGS Biological Resources Divi- Wildlife Refuge. This was followed by mother, embedded in her fur. sion, not for the refuge) in late 1997. a presentation on reading bear Pictures, updated every other Tony previously worked for Steve behavior by Derek Stonorov, local minute, are at www.orsa-gronklitt.se. Amstrup (USGS Biological Resources bear viewing guide. The keynote Orsa Grönklitt first offered an Division) studying polar bears for four address by noted wildlife filmmaker, internet bear den visit in January years and polar bear management for Joel Bennett was titled “New Chal- 2002. The camera project was the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the lenges of Meaningful Bear Viewing.” first of its kind and received an four years before that. Tony is still A panel discussion moderated by enormous response from all over the busy getting up to speed on the Colleen Matt, ADF&G and Becky world. During the three months that history of bear research on Kodiak, but Brock, National Park Service explored the camera was placed in the den, has plans to look at behavior and time questions raised during the recent more than 400,000 visitors were budget analysis in former ecotourism drafting of the Best Practices for Bear recorded from over 80 different areas this summer. Future plans Viewing. The forum ended with countries. include investigating population presentations by local bear viewing “One of the park’s main goals is to density in the heavily forested por- guides, which was moderated by provide knowledge about Swedish tions of the refuge on Afognak Island. Steve Stringham, Bear Viewing predators. Thanks to the internet we Tony will continue the tradition of Association. Almost 100 members of can reach out to the whole world working closely with the local Alaska the public interested in wildlife with knowledge and facts,” says Department of Fish and Game matters attended at least part of the Mikael Ahlerup, Managing Director biologist, Larry Van Daele. free forum. at Orsa Grönklitt. Contact Tony Fischbach at: Concurrent with the forum were The web project is a collaboration Kodiak NWR bear-related exhibits by 18 agencies, between Orsa Grönklitt and The 1390 Buskin River Road conservation organizations and Scandinavian Bear Project Kodiak, AK 99615, USA businesses. There was a children’s (Skandinaviska Björnprojektet). Phone (907) 487-2600 program on bears held at nearby

© Catherine Norkin Email [email protected]. International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 11 North America Alaska Bear Festival, North Pacific Rim cont’d. Brown Bear Management

Pratt Museum that was attended by Larry Van Daele habitat protection was the subject for 50 children. There were requests for Alaska Department of Fish and Game the evening sessions. The Northern additional programs for youths. 211 Mission Road Forum provided simultaneous transla- The forum was bracketed by a film Kodiak, AK 99615, USA tions of all presentations. festival featuring award-winning Email On 27 August, 30 members of the films, and some of Alaska’s award- [email protected] group flew to Kodiak Island where winning filmmakers, such as Joel & they learned about bear research and Bennett of Juneau and Daniel Zatz of Zoya Reviakina management activities in that area. Homer. Ticket sales for the film State Environmental Protection Much of the discussion was devoted festival partially covered festival Committee of Sakhalin Oblast to bear hunting, and to the recently expenses. Featured films were Bears Dzerjinskogo 15 completed Kodiak Archipelago Bear of the World and Bears of Alaska. Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, 693000, Russia Conservation and Management Plan Short anecdotal stories about bears Email [email protected] and the role of the public in working were given between films. Films closely with agencies to manage selected by the film committee had In August 2002, bear biologists bears and their habitat. There were to be both entertaining and informa- from the Russian Far East and also presentations on commercial tive about bears. Over 300 people Hokkaido joined several of their bear guiding, both for hunting and attended the film festival. counterparts from Alaska for an viewing, lead by a guide from Co-sponsors for the Fifth Alaska intensive workshop on brown bear Kamchatka and one from Alaska. A Bear Festival included 25 agencies, management in North Pacific field trip to local waste management conservation organizations (includ- regions. The workshop was organized facilities, a salmon weir, and a hike ing the entire spectrum of user by the Northern Forum, a non-profit, through bear habitat in Sitka spruce groups) and businesses. Each co- international organization composed forests at Abercrombie State Park got sponsor contributed funding and/or of regional governments from 11 delegates out of the meeting room on in-kind services. northern countries. The Northern the first day. The second day included The vision of the co-sponsors of Forum brings business, political and a field trip to Karluk Lake and Kodiak the Alaska Bear Festival is to main- scientific leaders together from these National Wildlife Refuge in a flock of tain healthy bear populations areas to address common political, DeHavilland Beaver floatplanes. On throughout Alaska because of their environmental and economic issues. the final evening of the Kodiak visit, ecological, cultural, recreational and The meeting began in Anchorage delegates were honored by the people economic values, as well as the where delegates from Kamchatka, of Kodiak with a banquet complete pleasure of knowing they exist. Koryak, Sakhalin, Sakha, Chukotka with singing and dancing by local and Hokkaido met with representa- Russian and Alutiiq Native performers. tives from Alaska Department of Fish The delegation traveled to King and Game, Audubon, U.S. Fish and Salmon on 29 August, and immedi- Wildlife Service, U.S. National Park ately continued on to Brooks Lodge Service, and World Wildlife Fund. in Katmai National Park. Bear– Agency representatives from both human interactions, park and people sides of the Pacific gave presenta- management, and bear safety tions summarizing their regulatory training were the primary topics of procedures, management activities, discussion for the next couple of and current issues. IBA president days. Participants also enjoyed free Harry Reynolds presented an infor- time to watch bears, enjoy other park mative overview of the role of our resources, and to engage in informal organization in international bear discussions. Cool, rainy weather and research and management, and infamous Alaska insects had little invited the Russian and Japanese impact on the enthusiasm and the delegates to become active members. free interchange during that portion The role of non-governmental organi- of the journey, and our four transla- zations in bear management and tors were in constant demand.

© Catherine Norkin

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 12 North America

Formal meetings reconvened in We also recognized how American pipelines, and development of Anchorage on 31 August, as the laws and advertising by American agricultural and forest lands. In the focus of presentations shifted to law outfitters have tremendous impact face of this economic pressure, it is enforcement. State and federal agents on Russian bears. currently difficult for us to encourage described their respective programs. From the Russian perspective, people to preserve wildlife and their There was also a great deal of participants felt they had a magnifi- habitat, especially large and poten- dialogue about the relationship of cent opportunity to get acquainted tially dangerous animals such as bears. Russian and American wildlife laws. with and share experiences with Our discussions of bear manage- These discussions led to develop- their American colleagues on such ment in Hokkaido and Alaska ment of a list of recommendations to subjects as population management, showed us that our Japanese and the Northern Forum Board of the administration of brown bear American colleagues face similar Governors. Included in those hunting in Alaska, investigation and problems. In Alaska, more than any recommendations were: 1) evaluate prosecution of poachers, and oppor- other region, we saw the positive bear census techniques used in tunities to share laboratory facilities. effects of implementing regulations various areas; 2) encourage “fair However, the greatest impression on and education to encourage people chase” hunting techniques by the Russian delegation was the way to behave properly around bears. It is foreign hunters in Russia; 3) facilitate in which American biologists have through these rules of behavior that improved bear viewing opportunities researched bear behavior and human a peaceful co-existence is possible. We in Russia; 4) cooperatively develop interactions, and translated this into were also very interested in the bear-safety and public education practical applications in places such program of ecological education that is materials; and, 5) improve communi- as Katmai National Park. On Brooks directed at improving people’s under- cation and coordination between River we saw interactions between standing of the behavior and critical biologists and law enforcement people and bears that are virtually needs of bears. We hope that we can agents in Russia and the United unheard of in Russia. In the Russian transfer experiences of American States. The dynamic week ended on 1 Far East, bears frequently use the colleagues to the Russian regions and September with closing remarks, same areas and resources as people make people more comfortable around evaluation of the workshop, assign- and encounters regularly occur near bears, and ultimately save the lives of ments for publication of the proceed- dwellings or while people gather fish, many of our bears. ings, and a banquet. wild plants and berries. Many of the This workshop came at a time of What we did during the workshop people that live in these areas have improving relationships between our was not nearly as important as what recently arrived from the European countries, and at a time of unprec- we learned. From the Alaska perspec- part of Russia and they are unaware edented pressure on bear populations tive, the meetings were personally of the local conditions and do not in the Russian Far East. Natural and professionally valuable. We understand animal behavior. Conse- resource development is rapidly learned a great deal from our Russian quently, in any encounter a wild altering bear habitat throughout the and Japanese colleagues about the bear’s behavior is perceived as region and increased hunting status of their bears and how people aggressive and the people’s reaction pressure is especially troublesome in interact with them. It was fascinating is one of fear or defense. We hope to Kamchatka. If the momentum to discover how similar our natural incorporate public education into generated during these meetings can resources are. We also gained a much our management programs for bears be maintained and converted to greater understanding of the eco- and other predators in the Far East so action, these challenges can be met nomic and political challenges our that we can teach people appropriate and the fragile bear resources we counterparts deal with, and the high ways to respond when dealing with share can be conserved. level of dedication and professional- them, and ultimately encourage The dedication of the Northern ism they maintain. Discussions about people to conserve these animals and Forum and the agencies that pro- bear management techniques gave us their habitat. This is especially vided funding for the workshop are new ideas to incorporate into our important in areas where economic greatly appreciated. Proceedings and programs, and we were encouraged activities are being actively pursued, workshop materials are available on by the prospect of continued coop- such as development of oil and gas the Northern Forum website eration with projects and concepts. fields, construction of highways and www.northernforum.org.

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 13 North America Pacific Coast Bear Shepherds in the North Cascades

Pacific Coast news provided by: Anne Braaten Given the valley’s remoteness (a Dave Immell N. Cascades Nat’l. Park Service Complex resort hamlet is 30 kilometers away Wildlife Research 810 State Route 20 and the nearest town is 80 kilometers Southwest Region Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284, USA down Lake Chelan) and the richness Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Phone (360) 856-5700 ext. 238 of food availability during most years, 4192 North Umpqua Highway Email [email protected] most bears in the area are unlikely to Roseburg, OR 97470, USA encounter any other community. Phone (541) 440-3353 The Stehekin Valley, at the heart Bear-human coexistence in the Fax (541 )673-0372 of Washington’s Lake Chelan valley has been characterized mainly Email [email protected] National Recreation Area, runs 45 by mutual tolerance during years of kilometers from the head of Lake high natural food abundance. During Send your news from British Chelan into the North Cascade drought years, an increased number of Columbia, Oregon, Washington and Range. The valley floor ranges from bears looking for alternative food California to the address above. 335 m at the head of the lake to 450 sources have led to lower human m at the last residence, 14 km up- tolerance and increased bear mortality. river. Peaks adjacent to the valley During 1998, severe drought range from 2,200 to 2,500 meters. brought an increased number of Access to the valley is limited to bears to the Stehekin Valley in search small aircraft, boats and hiking trails. of food. A classic example was About 100 year-round residents, provided by a female bear with two increased by about another 100 during cubs. When the family group was summer months, live in scattered first observed in mid-July, they houses primarily in the lower 8 km of responded very warily to people. the valley. Most are private landowners After a few days of foraging in the living on inholdings; the rest are historic orchard, increasingly near National Park Service (NPS) employees. the tourists and NPS staff, the In the springtime, American black female’s wary behavior quickly bears are drawn to the valley’s lush diminished. Over the next few weeks riparian vegetation. Some predation the family’s behavior became on mule deer fawns has been docu- progressively more bold and aggres- mented, but is not frequent. Service sive until they became regular

© Catherine Norkin berries (Amalanchier sp.), huckleberries “patrons” at the local bakery. It was (Vaccinium spp.) and kinnick kinnick here the family group was shot six (Arctostaphylos sp.) are abundant later weeks after they had first been in the season. Ants, also abundant observed, wild and human-wary, Oregon Bear Hunting throughout the lower valley, are found running from cars and bicycles on in most bear scats in this area. In the single-lane valley road. Eight The Oregon legislature is currently recent years the number of introduced other bears were shot in the lower considering a bill (House Bill 2436) kokanee salmon has increased dra- valley that year, all in an area of that would repeal Measure 18, the matically in the Stehekin River approximately one square kilometer. 1994 voter-passed initiative that watershed, providing food for bears in One was destroyed due to problem banned the use of hounds to hunt the lower valley. behavior; the other seven were bear and cougar, and the use of bait Anthropogenic foods are available hunting mortalities on the periphery to hunt bear. Although the bill has in a variety of forms, from cooling of the orchard. All of these bears, and passed out of committee, it has yet to pies on windowsills, to an apple a number of problem bears that go to a house vote, faces opposition orchard managed as a National apparently survived, had become from many groups and a possible Historic Site. To reduce wildlife habituated to people at the orchard. veto by the governor. An attempt in attractants, an enclosed community In July 2000, the North Cascades 1996 to repeal the measure via garbage compactor was installed in National Park Service Complex (of another ballot initiative failed. the 1970s to replace open-pit dumps. which the Lake Chelan National

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 14 North America

Recreation Area is a part) hosted a human-habituated behavior by program presented by the Wind moving away from cover. River Bear Institute (WRBI). The The summer of 2002 was our first focus of the program was to evaluate opportunity to test the strategy, the human-bear interface in devel- when the valley experienced drought oped areas throughout the North conditions similar to those of 1998. Cascades parks and to encourage The orchardist reported as many positive change in bear management bears using the orchard in 2002 as protocols in northwest Washington. during the previous drought. But in WRBI Director Carrie Hunt 2002, she and other NPS staff identified the historic apple orchard followed the WRBI strategy, as the probable behavioral “nursery” “shepherding” every bear exhibiting for most human-bear conflict in the habituated behavior in the orchard valley. The setting is ideal for bears’ (as well as in other areas of the habituation to people: low numbers valley). Bears moving quickly into of people participating in low-key cover upon detecting people were activities and a laissez-faire treatment left alone. of bears. During poor food years, up How effective was this strategy? One to a dozen American black bears season’s activities do not make a study. exploit the apple crop in late sum- However, the total known, human- private residents regarding bear- mer. The NPS orchardist is present caused mortality for black bears in the human coexistence in the Stehekin most days. Busloads of visitors arrive Stehekin Valley last year was zero. Valley. Hunt and the WRBI have at midday for a brief tour of the area, Further, none of the bears using the provided new options for old and at other times valley residents or orchard were reported in conflict with problems. For example, when a visitors may pick apples. Bears appear people elsewhere in the valley (a first, “non-orchard” bear visited a family’s to learn habituation first from the to my knowledge, especially during a chicken coop in mid-summer, the solitary orchardist, then quickly drought year), and bears in other landowner and an NPS ranger graduate to ignoring the tourists who locations also responded well to worked together to successfully come as much to see bears as the “shepherding” efforts. “shepherd” it away over the course orchard and its homestead. Although we did not intend to of two days, after which it was no Fencing the orchard, though it has affect hunting success, no bears were longer observed in the area. We not been ruled out, has so far not shot by hunters on the periphery of continue to seek funding to provide been an option due primarily to the orchard. It remains to be seen further community-based bear cultural-resource concerns. Another whether this was an artifact of the “shepherding” workshops for all concern is that the NPS not remove “shepherding” and/or other factors. residents of the valley. “cold turkey” from the bear popula- It raises the question of whether the Challenges to maintaining the tion a traditional food source used historic feature we manage contrib- program include a recent, high turn- for nearly 100 years. utes to an artificially high take in the over in ranger staff (creating short- In 2000, Hunt developed a vicinity of the orchard. Almost all of term personnel shortages and the strategy for preventing bears using the American black bear hunter- need for continued, basic training) the orchard from becoming habitu- caused mortality in the 25,500 and tenuous funds for managing the ated to people. Any bear allowing hectare recreation area occurs within orchard (i.e., ensuring the dedicated itself to be observed away from cover 500 m of the orchard. While we do orchardist/bear shepherd is continu- would be “shepherded” by yelling manage for hunting in the valley, we ously available to work with the and firearm-propelled riot rounds do not manage for increasing take bears). To be effective the strategy (rubber bullets, bean bags, noise over what would occur without this must remain consistent from year-to- makers). Bears using the far end of anthropogenic food source. year. Last year’s results suggest the the orchard, away from human The program has opened new “shepherding” strategy holds activity, would be allowed to feed on doors of communication and promise for future years—and bears. apples as long as they did not exhibit cooperation between the NPS and

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 15 North America Be Bear Panel Endorses British Columbia Aware Campaign Grizzly Bear Conservation

Press release Press Release, March 7, 2003 always room for improvement,” said Center for Wildlife Information British Columbia (Canada) Ministry Murray. “We are acting immediately PO Box 8289 of Water, Land and Air Protection on many of the panel’s recommenda- Missoula, MT 59807, USA Phone (250) 387-9973 tions and will revise our long-term Phone (406) 721-8985 Website http://www.gov.bc.ca/ conservation strategy to ensure that Website www.BeBearAware.org. healthy grizzly populations are Victoria—An independent scien- sustained in the future.” Bear Trust International (PO Box tific panel appointed on recommen- As recommended by the panel, the 4006, Missoula, MT 59806, USA, (406) dations from the International province will reduce the maximum 523-7779, www.beartrust.org) and the Association for Bear Research and allowable human-caused grizzly Center for Wildlife Information are Management has confirmed that the mortality rate to five percent from organizing an education program to British Columbia (B.C.) government six percent in time for the spring benefit bears and bear conservation. is managing grizzly bears effectively 2004 hunting season. The province Wildlife and land management and using sound population esti- will also revise administrative unit agencies throughout North America will mates. boundaries and conduct additional be recruited to conduct public safety “We made a New Era commit- research to track population trends. outreach activities, and will be provided ment to replace the previous The province will update the with educational materials. The purpose government’s blanket moratorium grizzly bear conservation strategy to is to educate the public about safe and with regional moratoriums on grizzly address the panel’s recommendations responsible enjoyment of the outdoors, bear hunting,” said Water, Land and for dealing with habitat issues, and help reduce unfortunate human- Air Protection Minister Joyce Murray. maintaining grizzly populations and wildlife encounters. “I’m pleased that the scientific establishing grizzly management The campaign is endorsed by the panel’s report concludes that the areas. A public advisory committee Western Association of Fish and Wildlife harvest of grizzly bears in B.C. can be made up of First Nations, hunters, Agencies, the International Association managed on a sustainable basis, with guide outfitters, industry, conserva- of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the minimal risk of population declines. tionists, outdoor recreation users, Wildlife Management Institute, The “The report indicates that we are naturalists and representatives of Wildlife Society, USDA Forest Service, etc. on the right track and that our local and federal governments will The Forest Service and the National population estimate of at least provide input into the strategy. Forest Foundation awarded a $200,000 13,800 bears is far more accurate “We are pleased that the province challenge grant, and the Graphic Art than those suggested by some has accepted our recommendations Educational Fund matched $50,000. advocacy groups.” to further improve a bear harvest The North American Be Bear The report strongly refutes management system that is arguably Aware and Wildlife Stewardship population estimates of 6,000 or already one of the best in North Campaign was organized because of fewer bears, calling them “unreli- America,” said James Peek, chair of the escalating number of injuries and able” and “biologically unrealistic.” the grizzly bear scientific panel. deaths to humans and wildlife. The The panel concluded that current For a copy of the panel’s final public is poorly informed about protective measures, combined with report, go to http:// avoiding or preventing confronta- some additional recommended wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/ and click tions with wildlife, and the media measures, offer a “robust conserva- on Grizzly Bear Conservation often encourage inappropriately tion strategy for grizzly bears.” Strategy. close contact with wildlife. “We base our estimates on sound Wildlife agencies joining the scientific methods, but there is campaign will present a consistent, unified voice to the public. Educa- tional materials have been developed and field-tested by state and federal wildlife and land management agencies. Materials include brochures, educational cards and bumper stickers.

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 16 North America Southeast USA

Southeast USA news provided by: be established between the existing west of LONWR. Females in the David Goad Tensas River basin and Atchafalaya Complex and in the Tensas River Wildlife Management Division River basin populations in order to basin are being monitored daily in Arkansas Game and Fish Commission facilitate movement of bears between order to compare post-released #2 Natural Resources Drive these areas. A five-year research/ movements with natural movements Little Rock, AR 72205, USA restoration program was initiated in these areas. Additional trapping Phone (501) 223-6359 with the goal of establishing a by LSU personnel will resume this Fax (501) 223-6452 sustainable black bear population in summer to increase the number of Email [email protected] the Red River Complex (Complex) of marked females for future relocation east central Louisiana, in order to efforts. Send your news from the south- facilitate movement of bears between eastern USA to the address above. the existing Tensas and Atchafalaya River Basin populations. The USFWS, in cooperation with Louisiana State Florida Update Louisiana Black University (LSU) and the Louisiana Brian Scheick Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Bear Management Section Bear Restoration is currently in the beginning phases Florida Fish and Wildlife Shauna Ginger of this program, with five females Conservation Commission Black Bear Research Crew Leader being released in the Complex in 1526 Kelvin Avenue Louisiana State University 2001-2002. Two of those females have Deltona, FL 32738-5002, USA Tensas River National Wildlife Refuge remained collared and in the area, and Phone (386) 789-7063 (SC: 389-7063) Tallulah, LA 71282, USA are currently being monitored. Email [email protected] Phone (318) 574-8454 Trapping efforts on Tensas River Website http://wildflorida.org/bear Email [email protected] National Wildlife Refuge and sur- rounding private lands (owned by The Florida Fish and Wildlife The Louisiana black bear (Ursus Deltic Timber and Anderson-Tulley Conservation Commission (FWC) is americanus luteolus) was once distrib- Timber companies) by USFWS and involved with a number of research uted throughout the lower Missis- United States Department of Agricul- efforts regarding American black sippi Alluvial Valley in eastern Texas, ture personnel in the spring, and by bears. Following are some current Louisiana and southern Mississippi. LSU personnel in the summer and research projects. As a result of excessive harvest, and fall of 2002, resulted in 91 captures habitat loss and degradation, the of 80 individual bears. Thirty-five Bald Bears? subspecies is currently restricted to females were collared and tracked by FWC wildlife veterinarian, Mark the Tensas River basin and LSU graduate student John Benson Cunningham, continues to examine Atchafalaya River basin of Louisiana, throughout the summer and fall. demodicosis in the Ocala black bear with additional individuals located Beginning in February 2003, all population. A small pocket of bears in the lower East Pearl River basin in collared females were located and on the western edge of the Ocala Louisiana and the lower Pascagoula reproductive status assessed. Eleven National Forest suffers from general- River basin of southern Mississippi. had cubs and six were chosen for ized demodectic mange. Research The subspecies was listed as federally “soft release” at Lake Ophelia into the character and cause of this threatened by the United States Fish National Wildlife Refuge (LONWR) disease has been conducted in and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in in the Complex. In March, two cooperation with other research 1992. females were taken from ground projects in Ocala National Forest After over a decade of research, the dens and three females were success- since 1999. USFWS and the Black Bear Conserva- fully moved from tree dens for a Demodectic mange is caused by a tion Committee developed a Black total of five females and 15 cubs host-specific mite that has been Bear Restoration Plan and Recovery released in the target area. To date, identified as a unique species, Plan, with the ultimate goal of de- four of those females have remained Demodex ursi. Since the disease was listing the Louisiana black bear. To close to the release sites, while one first identified in the state by accomplish this, a population must has moved approximately 28.5 km Forrester et al. (Forrester, D. J., M. G.

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 17 North America Florida, cont’d.

Spalding, and J. B. Wooding. 1993. study is using hair snares and DNA from a dirt track transect adjacent to Demodicosis in black bears (Ursus to assess the impacts of transporta- the roadway and by documenting americanus) from Florida. Journal of tion-related deaths on bear popula- the locations of unsuccessful road Wildlife Diseases 29:136-138.), tions by estimating the abundance crossings. The distribution and approximately 45 cases have been and distribution of black bears in six abundance of fall foods is also being diagnosed in Florida. Outside of core areas across the state. The assessed by mast surveys to help Florida the disease has been results will enable FWC and Florida explain bear movements and high- diagnosed only once—this in one Department of Transportation to way crossing frequency. This project of 113 bears examined in Wiscon- make informed decisions regarding has spawned several graduate sin by Manville (Manville, A. M. highway management issues such as research projects through the 1978. Ecto- and endoparasites of design, placement and mitigation. University of Florida under the the black bear in northern Wiscon- FWC has initiated a similar effort in advisement of Dr. Madan Oli. sin. Journal of Wildlife Diseases the North St. Johns River area. The 14:97-101.). Normally, Demodex “Northern St. Johns River Black Bear Graduate Research spp. mites live in very low numbers Assessment” began October 2002 and Melissa Moyer is investigating the on most individuals of most is a study to document bear presence habitat use and genetic relatedness of mammal species as part of their in an area of the St. Johns popula- female black bears in the Ocala normal skin fauna. However, in tion that has a patchy distribution. National Forest by intensively domestic dogs, an unknown Another new study, “Non-invasive monitoring collared bears, and to underlying immunosuppression Assessment of Black Bear Movements address how range overlap and space results in over-proliferation of the and Abundance Relative to U.S. 98 sharing between bears correlates to mites and the skin disease Within the Aucilla Wildlife Manage- their genetic relatedness. Addition- demodicosis. The cause of the ment Area (WMA)” will begin this ally, she will identify important disease in bears is unknown. summer. This is a smaller version of habitats, including seasonal and Clinical signs in bears are the “Black Bear Movements and annual changes for bears. primarily limited to hair loss— Habitat Use Relative to Roads in Jeremy Dixon is examining which is most consistently on the Ocala National Forest” study, genetic structure and gene flow muzzle and around the eyes but designed specifically to examine a among Florida black bear popula- may progress to affect virtually the section of U.S. 98 that bisects the tions to document gene flow among entire body. The mites appear to be Aucilla WMA. This area is ranked the six core populations, investigate passed from mother to cubs and third in importance out of 15 gene flow in terms of landscape hair loss begins around five months statewide roadkill problem areas. configuration, and to evaluate the of age but has been documented on The study of “Black Bear Move- effectiveness of a regional corridor in some neonate cubs. It appears that ments and Habitat Use Relative to connecting the Ocala and Osceola males usually go on to recover Roads in Ocala National Forest” is in black bear populations. These data while most females have the its fourth and final year. Researchers are closely tied with those collected disease for life. The prevalence of with the FWC are investigating the during the statewide assessment demodicosis among females in the movements, habitat use and popula- study discussed above. study area is over 80%. Contrary to tion dynamics of black bears along a Elina Garrison is examining many media reports, the occur- portion of State Road 40 in Ocala specific causes of cub mortality and rence is very localized and re- National Forest. The Ocala black bear denning ecology of Florida black stricted to a very small geographic population is the largest in the state bears in North Central Florida by area. Researchers continue to and has sustained 45% of the intensively monitoring radio-collared unravel the epidemiology. statewide roadkill since 1976. FWC is cubs. Information on reproductive seeking to define habitat use, ecology of female black bears such as State Research patterns of movement and rates and litter size and age at reproduction is The final field season for a three- sources of adult mortality from also being collected. year study, “Statewide Assessment radio-collared bears. Data concerning of Road Impacts on Bears in the locations and patterns of high- Florida,” will end this fall. This way crossings are being gathered

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 18 North America SABBSG Plans Regional DNA Sampling

Mark D. Jones population over time. A regional Specific objectives of the study are: North Carolina population estimate would be 1. determine the feasibility of Wildlife Resources Commission important to guide management and acquiring sufficient DNA samples, 5275 NC 118 Highway to evaluate the validity of the bait- 2. determine expected capture and Grifton, NC 28530, USA station index. recapture probabilities, Phone (252) 524-3443 Conventional mark-recapture 3. determine optimal length of the techniques suitable for small study sampling period, State and federal wildlife agencies areas are not practical for a large 4. evaluate the effects of sampling in Georgia, North Carolina, South region like the southern Appala- biases, and Carolina and Tennessee formed the chians. Advances in DNA technology 5. provide baseline abundance and Southern Appalachian Black Bear may offer the SABBSG an alternative density estimates for black bears in Study Group (SABBSG) in the mid- method for population estimation. selected areas of the southern 1970s. Since its formation, the The SABBSG is conducting a pilot Appalachian region. SABBSG has worked to share Ameri- study this summer to determine Agencies providing funding, staff can black bear data and develop whether genetic sampling for or support include the Georgia consistent bear-related surveys. population estimation is feasible and Department of Natural Resources, Participating agencies meet biannu- to develop appropriate sampling National Park Service, North Caro- ally to discuss bait-station surveys, regimes to obtain desired levels of lina Wildlife Resources Commission, mast surveys, nuisance activities, precision. One high density study South Carolina Department of changing legislation and research area will be located in the northwest- Natural Resources, Tennessee Wildlife needs. Because the participants ern quadrant of the Great Smoky Resources Agency, U.S. Forest Service, manage a shared bear population Mountains National Park. A lower and the USGS Southern Appalachian across four states, the group has density area will be located on Field Lab at the University of Tennes- identified a need for an accurate National Forest lands along the see. Field work will be conducted regional population estimate and the borders of Georgia, North Carolina from May to August, and results will ability to track trends in the bear and South Carolina. appear in this newsletter.

Seventeenth Eastern Black Bear Workshop Summary

Kelcey Burguess to condition black bears. Road in what they do when they realized a Black Bear Project construction impacts and home dog was involved. This leads to New Jersey Div. of Fish and Wildlife range size for black bears in urban better communication between state Phone (908)735-8793 states were also topics of great officials and local residents of bear Fax (908) 735-6161 interest. country. Email [email protected] By far the biggest attraction was Dr. Mark Frakker spoke about his the use of the black mouth yellow immunocontraception work and The 17th Eastern Black Bear ker dogs used in Louisiana to deter what the future holds for Workshop theme was “Black Bears in nuisance black bears. Paul and Maria immunocontraception in wildlife the Back Yard.” Since calls received Davidson were quick to point out management. Since this is such a hot by state agencies concerning Ameri- that the dogs were not a cure-all for topic here in New Jersey much can black bears close to residential black bear nuisance abatement but a attention was paid to his presenta- areas are steadily increasing, many tool to be utilized in certain situa- tion by the local media. are concerned with ways of mitigat- tions. They explained that the dogs’ Of the five break-out sessions, the ing this behavior. Talks ranged from role as ambassadors to local commu- use of DNA for population assess- training police officers to be first nities was as important as the bear ment and the training of police responders to bear calls and com- conditioning work they did. They officers for bear response drew the plaints to using trained dogs as a tool felt that people were more interested most attention. Thomas Eason of the

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 19 Rehabilitation Eastern Black Bear Rehabilitation and Release of Workshop, cont’d. Two Black Bears, Alberta, Canada

Florida Fish and Game Commission Siân S. Waters they lived until their release. See lead the DNA session and discussed Cochrane Ecological Institute Smeeton and Waters (in press) for the parameters when considering the PO Box 484 information on the bears’ captive use of DNA sampling techniques. Cochrane, AB T4C 1A7, Canada conditions. Patrick Carr led the discussion on Email [email protected] The bears were approximately 2.5 training police officers in local years old when they were released. communities to deal with bears. Topics Released, rehabilitated bears can The release delay was caused by a included the cost of aversively condi- be a danger to the public (van Dijk lack of funding for post-release tioning black bears by local communi- and Huber 2002). However, releases monitoring. The release occurred in ties as opposed to state agencies, and of American black bears are rarely early July 2001. training officers in the biology and documented. Stringham et al (2003) The bears were not returned to conditioning of bears. argued that research to develop their original site due to the nearby Blair Soars of Pneu Dart Inc. effective rehabilitation and release presence of camping sites. The donated a $700 prototype dart gun. methods should be encouraged. Weldwood Managed Forest was Thomas Eason of the Florida Fish Released bears should not be a risk to chosen as it had areas of relatively and Wildlife Commission won the people, should have skills to survive low levels of human disturbance. drawing for the gun. in the wild, should be monitored Both black and grizzly bears occurred Tyler Plumb of V Quip and Tom post-release, and their progress throughout the forest. Vail of McClintock Metals donated documented in order to develop Prior to release both females were residential bear proof garbage guidelines and protocols for bear tattooed, weighed, fitted with an ear containers to the New Jersey Division rehabilitation. tag radio transmitter, and had blood of Fish and Wildlife. The dumpsters In Alberta, orphaned bears samples taken. Both females were in will be given away to two communi- sometimes attract the public’s very good health and body condition ties. We are considering having attention and they demand that the compared to wild bears (T. Shury, school groups develop ways of bear fish and wildlife department inter- pers. comm.). Bear A weighed 180 proofing their schools. The two vene. Nature is prevented from pounds and her smaller sibling, Bear schools that develop the best meth- “taking its course” and the bear B, weighed 156 pounds. In the spring ods will win the dumpsters for their cub(s) are collected and placed in the prior to their release, the bears had school or community. care of a wildlife rehabilitator. No shown very little interest in the food Other contributors to the workshop funding is provided by the Alberta provided by CEI staff and, in contrast were: Owls Nest Sports Shop, County provincial government to the to the previous year, preferred to Line Sports Shop/Hart’s American, rehabilitator who cares for the bears forage on leaf buds and grass avail- Jim’s Sports Center, Digestive Care, until their release. It is the responsi- able in their enclosure. Problems Maglio Electric, Wild Turkey Federa- bility of the wildlife rehabilitator to with their foraging skills were not tion State Chapter, Star Ledger, Ray’s find funding and to monitor reha- foreseen after release, but the Sport Shop, Reed Joseph, Walmart, bilitated bears post–release. This aim establishment of a home range Gary Grey Trucking, Rutgers Univer- is not always achieved. leading to potentially aggressive sity Cook College, Stoudt Canvas In spring 1999, two female, interactions with already established Supply, D and N Animal Recovery, sibling, American black bear cubs bears was a possibility. The bears Loupold Optics, New York Metropoli- were brought to the Cochrane were released together using a hard tan Outdoor Press Assoc., Stokes Sport Ecological Institute (CEI). The public release method, with no acclimation Shop, Tom Broadhecker, and ESU Fish had reported the cubs over a period period. and Wildlife Micro Bio Lab. of eight days. Fish and wildlife At the site, the bears were checked We would like to thank the Black officers found them close to the body and released. Both bears slowly left Bear Conservation Committee, the of their mother near a road outside the trap and disappeared into the North American Bear Foundation, Edson, Alberta. The cubs were bush. We immediately left the area Bear Trust International and the dehydrated and required a short and returned the next morning to many other financial contributors period of observation and care. They locate the bears by radio telemetry. that made the 17th Eastern Black were gradually habituated to a We followed the bears using radio Bear Workshop such a great success. wooded, 2.5-acre enclosure where telemetry for six consecutive days.

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 20 Rehabilitation

We saw the bears either separately or release. The healthy body condition Nada Beainy, Daniel Woods, Beth together three times. Once the bears of the bears may have provided an Doman, Tyler Kristiansen and Jill came out of the bush, began play advantage over other females. Westhorp. The Elsa Foundation and fighting about 300 meters away from It would be extremely difficult to The International Wildlife Coalition our vehicle, and were visible for find suitable black bear habitat in support the captive facility where the about 30 seconds. central Alberta that does not have bears were kept. Many thanks to On the sixth day, only one signal resident black bears and/or human Safeways Supermarket in Cochrane was heard. Eventually Bear B was development. Although the fate of for providing invaluable support to located visually about two miles west the bears was unknown after Septem- the bears at CEI. Finally my thanks of Bear A’s estimated location. Radio ber 2001, the bears were foraging to Clio Smeeton, President of CEI, telemetry revealed that the bears had successfully and appeared to have who made this project possible by separated. Neither bear moved established a home range. Most rehabilitating the bears and being extensively from the original release importantly, fish and wildlife officers the backbone of the project through- site. Bear A’s area included the release received no nuisance bear com- out. site. Bear B’s area was adjacent to the plaints from the area (D. Palkun, References release site where she was first pers. comm.). The project also raised van Dijk, J. and Huber, D. 2002. observed on her own. In August, awareness in Alberta about bear The limitations to releasing rehabili- fresh scat composed predominantly conservation. More research needs to tated bears. Int. Bear News 11:18. of berry seeds was found in the area be done on a much larger sample of Smeeton, C. and Waters, S.S. In frequented by Bear B and evidence of such bears before any conclusions press. Captive management of digging for invertebrates was seen. can be drawn about the practicalities orphaned black bears (Ursus The last sighting of Bear B was 9 of rehabilitating American black americanus) intended for release. In: September 2001 on a creek bank in bears. The Evaluation of Bear Rehabilitation the area where her signal was often Acknowledgements Projects from a Conservationist’s heard. Bear A’s signal was heard near I am extremely grateful to the Viewpoint. L. Kolter, J. van Dijk & T. the original release site on the same World Society for the Protection of Thomas (eds.). Ouwehands Zoo, day. Animals (WSPA Canada) and Cana- Rhenen, The Netherlands. The last trip to the area in 2001 dian Pacific for their support for this Stringham, S.F., Rogers, R., Kilham, occurred in mid-October, about a project, particularly, Rob Laidlaw and B. and Russell, C. 2003. Are rehabili- week after the last reported black Pat Tohill of WSPA and Dennis tated or habituated bears especially bear sighting for the year (D. Palkun, Apedale of Canadian Pacific. I am dangerous? Int. Bear News. 12:17. pers.comm.). No signals were located also very grateful to the officers of for either bear, leading to the belief Alberta Environment’s Fish and that both bears had hibernated. The Wildlife Department especially ear tag transmitters were due to Dennis Palkun of Edson. Rick Bonar reactivate on 1 April 2002, and we of Weldwood Managed Forest was planned three trips to the area from helpful throughout. I sincerely thank mid-May to mid-July. No signals volunteer field assistants: Patricia were located from either bear despite Mistero, Ben McLeod, Leanna Davies, extensive searches in 2002. We have no information about the possible fates of the bears. The captive facility that housed the bears enabled them to learn foraging and climbing skills. The release site was isolated from human activity. Resident bears in the release area did not seem to affect the ability of either bear to establish a home range almost immediately after

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 21 Rehabilitation Brown Bear Rehabilitation at Toropetsky Biological Station

Valentin S. Pazhetnov Of bear cubs brought to the station: removing part of the enclosure fence. & 67% came from hunters; 24% were During this period the groups did not Sergey V. Pazhetnov orphaned for other reasons; and 9% mix, being absolutely independent Toropetsky Biological Station came from zoos. Sixteen percent died “families” with their particular “family “Clean Forest” from natural causes (killed by male scent.” They moved freely around the Central Forest Natural Reserve bears, stray dogs, wolves and poison 600 hectare site and adjusted to being p/o Pozhnia plants); and 5% died from diseases or wild. Extra nutrition (corn, sunflower Tver Region injuries (n-107). Health problems seeds, etc.) was provided next to the Toropets District encountered at the Biological Station enclosure, which attracted bear cubs 172862 Russia included respiratory diseases (cubs and made it possible to catch them Phone and Fax (007) 08268 21958 under three months old) and sores when necessary. Email [email protected] from wounds. All were cured if It is not easy to catch a bear cub. We antibiotics were used. trap it in a small enclosure (30x30 Toropetsky Biological Station During 2002, 18 orphan bear cubs meters), immobilize it, check it, weigh “Clean Forest” was established in were kept at the station, see Table 1. it, and mark the ear with the address 1985. The primary goals are: eco- All the bear cubs delivered to the of the Biological Station. Then we monitoring of 100 square kilometers; Biological Station by hunters were place it in a transport cage and take it providing the Central Forest Biosphere from 2 weeks to 2.5 months old. Up to into nature a distance of 70 to 600 Nature Reserve publication Nature three months of age they were kept in kilometers from the station. Some- Annals with annual ecological reports; a warm building, in separate boxes times in July bear cubs leave the area and studying brown bear biology. (one, two or three animals in each where they have been kept, for at the Since 1990 rehabilitation of orphaned box). At the age of three months, they age of six months they tend to become bear cubs has been conducted. were separated into two groups (7 and independent and can successfully Initially, the station purchased orphan 11 cubs) and put into an enclosure in survive in the wild. By this time they bear cubs from hunters. Gradually, the the forest. After four months, they have enough food (berries, insects, Biological Station became well known were given free access to nature by mice, etc.) and do not need extra as an orphan bear cub rehabilitation center. Hunters now donate bear cubs Table 1. Toropetsky Biological Station 2002 Bear Cubs Rehabilitated but the Biological Station can’t afford Date Received Bears Gender Days Old Place of Origin to house more than 15 animals at a # Female # Male time, which is incomparably lower 3.02 2 1 1 30-35 St. Petersburg than the number of bear cubs offered. 5.02 3 2 1 30-35 Okhvat, Penovsky region* By 2002, 100 bear cubs nurtured at 13.02 3 3 40-45 Moscow 18.02 2 1 1 60-65 Andreapolsky region* the Biological Station had been 22.02 2 1 1 40-45 Karelia released into the wild; 74% of them 25.02 2 2 60-65 Toropetsky region* have adjusted to the wild (including 6.03 3 1 2 60-65 Novgorodskaya oblast bear cubs from the Kazany Zoological 25.03 1 1 90-95 Omsk town and Botanic Gardens (n-6, Kazany * Tverskaya oblast town) and the Belgorod Zoo (n-4)). Bear cubs arrive at the rehabilitation Table 2. Toropetsky Biological Station 2002 center aged 0 to 3.5 months old and Rehabilitated Bear Cubs Successfully Released to Nature are released to nature at the ages of Release Date Bears Gender Days Old Release Location seven-to-eight and 16 months. Half- # Female # Male day-old bear cubs weigh 432 to 468 26.07 2 2 210-240 Novgorodskaya oblast grams (451 grams average (n-5)); 35-to- 28.07 2 1 1 210-240 Toropetsky region* 45-day-olds weigh 1000 to 1800 grams; 29.07 3 1 2 210-240 Toropetsky region* seven-month-olds weigh 12 to 16 4.08 2 1 1 210-240 Andreapolsky region* kilos; 16-month-olds (after wintering) 4.10 1 1 300-310 Andreapolsky region* weigh 17 to 25 kilos (over wintering 8.10 2 1 1 300-310 Kesovogorsky region cubs can lose up to 30% of their weight). *Tverskaya oblast

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 22 Rehabilitation

nutrition. They avoid people and it is Station as “problem animals” for territory of about 300 to 400 hectares. extremely difficult to catch them. Such overwintering at the station. At the age of six months they may bear cubs were recorded two or three After 23 days, three more bear cubs walk two-to-four kilometers from the years after they had left the Biological approached a small village (15 enclosure. They are active during Station at a distance of 10 to 150 kilometers from the Biological Station) daytime, particularly in the morning kilometers, and one was 215 kilome- where holidaymakers were staying. and in the evening. ters away. Even though people saw the special Staff who feed bear cubs and In 2002, 17 of 18 bear cubs were marks on the bear cubs’ ears and knew maintain contact with them (the released to nature during July to the rules about orphan bear cubs, they same one-to-three people) use the October (see Table 2 on page 22). ignored the rules, fed them, and tried same clothes and use no perfumes Five bears returned to towns and to attract them for picture taking. except those from basic toiletries villages 10 to 42 days after they had However, the animals were careful and (soap, toothpaste, etc.). Extra nutri- been released. We took them back to two days later left the village. After 13 tion is divided into small portions the Biological Station and together days they were noticed again around and spread on 100 to 150 square with the remaining cub which was the village but did not approach meters near or within the enclosure. not released in the wild, overwin- people. Later they were registered at The number of portions exceeds the tered them. 12 to 21 kilometers from the village. number of bear cubs, which helps to Twelve (67%) of the original 18 Their behavior did not differ from the avoid conflicts among animals. bear cubs, released into nature at the behavior of wild bear cubs starting Some bear cubs leave the Biologi- age of about seven months old, their independent life. cal Station voluntarily. This is called adjusted to wild life successfully. Forty-two days after release, three a soft release. Such animals acquire a Three were equipped with transmit- other bear cubs approached a settle- strong fear of people and all signs of ters and were monitored in the wild ment and followed women gathering human presence. until the end of November. berries in the forest. They were caught The main method of release is a The six remaining bear cubs (one and delivered back to the Biological semi-hard one, in which bear cubs with a transmitter) from the original Station as “problem animals.” are released after they learn how to group of 18 spent the winter in Thirty days after release, one of find food, acquire a sense of locality human-made dens (boxes of planks set two bear cubs with transmitters and form defensive behavior pat- in the forest). After overwintering in approached a logging operation field terns. The difference is that they are the natural environment without kitchen, and fed on wastes. It was released into a new, unfamiliar extraneous noises and scents (even in caught and delivered back to the environment. We do not use a hard a human-made den), bear cubs Biological Station. The other one was method of release, although consider become wild and adjust easily to registered regularly through autumn it a potential method to be tested in nature. This method of overwintering near its release site. the future, in cases where it is the bear cubs has been used successfully at The rehabilitation of orphan bear only possible way of release. the Biological Station since 1995. cubs at the Biological Station “Clean Biological Station staff conduct During June and July there was Forest” starts with raising them public education locally focusing on road construction within two (including special feeding) in a warm young people, promoting care of kilometers of the Biological Station. room up to the age of three months. nature and positive human attitudes The workers used heavy machinery Then bear cubs are placed in the forest towards animals. They also work and threw out rubbish and food. enclosure far from people (400 meters with local authorities and mass Bear cubs became used to the from the closest house), where they media to ban bear hunting during machinery noise and human can shelter in a small den-like wooden winter. Recently we have achieved activity. Ten days after being house. There they are fed first with significant progress and winter bear released (120 kilometers from the liquid, then with hard food. There is den hunting in central Russia has Biological Station), two bear cubs also a natural reservoir in the enclo- been banned for 2003. were attracted by the noise of a sure. At four months of age they have The orphan bear cub rehabilitation tractor (two kilometers from the free access to the natural environment project at the Biological Station “Clean release site). They were caught and and are not accompanied by staff. Forest” is financed by the International delivered back to the Biological Five-month-old bear cubs use a Fund for Animal Welfare.

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 23 Student Forum Drinking From a Different Well, Funding Your Project

Diana Doan-Crider When I initiated the Mexican 1. Have a Plan Caesar Kleberg Black Bear Project, I was pretty green. Nobody will take you seriously if you Wildlife Research Institute I didn’t have a school, and I had no do not have a plan, but if you DO have a MSC 218 prospects of funding. All I knew was plan, that will be your “foot in the door.” Texas A&M University-Kingsville that I wanted to study bears in When I first started, I had just graduated Kingsville, TX 78363-8202, USA Mexico. As I hear you chatting on from college, and had relatively little Email [email protected] Truman, I see many similarities to experience planning a research project. I the challenges I faced. Many of you sought the advice of those who had, and have very big hearts, great ideas and they helped me develop a reasonable supernatural energy to devote to plan. Common sense was essential in your projects. I understand your designing a project that was doable. frustrations in wanting to do so When people saw that I was organized much, but feeling you’ve been able and determined, they looked at my to do so little. Let me encourage you: proposal. I just finished 10 years of research, and 2. Be Determined I turned in my dissertation 18 April For every 100 people, 97 people will 2003. The total funding raised was half tell you that it can’t be done, two will a million dollars. I’m pretty satisfied, try to make you fail, but one will tell and I know that part of my role as you that it can be done and will go out Student Coordinator is to help of their way to help you. Stayed glued encourage you. Here are some ideas to that one. Out of the hundreds of and tips that will help you, listed in people that I talked to when I started the order of their importance. my project, I acquired a small, but

Truman—Student List Serve • For IBA students only (some exceptions will be made). Truman Lives! • Discussions pertaining to bear We’ve had a great response on Truman, our new IBA Student List Serve, biology, management or study design from students across the world, including South America, Scandinavia, France, challenges. Germany, USA, Canada, Asia and Turkey! Please direct bear students to • Job searches, announcements, Truman, so we can help them, too. information regarding the IBA and Many of you have demonstrated a real hunger for knowledge. Rich Harris student membership. and the IBA Council are working very hard to make Ursus readily accessible. Instructions Your IBA membership now includes International Bear News and Ursus. The • Contact Diana Doan-Crider at d- annual fee of US$50 is very reasonable for what you are getting, and much [email protected] to enroll. needed by the IBA to cover their publication costs. If you are truly in a finan- • Go to http://aristotle.tamuk.edu. cial bind, the IBA will accept US$25 and still send you the journal and newslet- • Click on Agricultural Lists. ter (see page 33). Many of you don’t have access to past publications—mainly • Click on Truman. South Americans and Asians—but we’re working on that. • Enter your email address and the One idea is to develop a student publication series covering the fundamentals password: Bears01. about bear research and management that you can access through the list serve. • Go to Create Message. Based on what you have requested through Truman, the next series of newsletter student columns will focus on animal safety and handling, habitat analysis, Do NOT reply to list serve messages population dynamics assessments, etc. using your “reply” button. You must We’re planning for the 2004 San Diego IBA conference (see page 30) includ- return to Truman and respond ing an evening brainstorming session where students can present five minute within the list serve or else other summaries of their projects. Challenges, problems and successes will be the members will not receive your focus with professional members of the IBA on hand to help out. Stay tuned to response. Truman so you can be part of the action.

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 24 Student Forum

wonderful group of “counselors” that 4. Attach Yourself visit my study site, and when I caught helped and encouraged me. Those Some of you are carrying a very a bear and named it after her, she gave people were critical to the project’s heavy load on your own. You may be me $40,000. Do not compromise your success, because nothing will limit independent types, but most funding ethics, but be open to new funding success more than discouragement. agencies or organizations are hesitant sources. And believe me, there are some real to donate to small unproven groups. I 6. Be Professional discouragement champions out cannot really blame them, because I Dress and act like you’re a profes- there. Avoid them at all costs. would probably do the same. I sional, even if you don’t feel like one. 3. Network recommend that you attach yourself The first impression you make may When you are thirsty, you go where to some trustworthy organization or be your only opportunity to present there’s water. While biologists have a academic institution that can provide your project. Make sure your pro- tendency to be introverts (that’s why a roof over your head, and help you posal is high quality, and proofread we like animals), the fact is that manage your funds. I attached myself for spelling and grammar. Be polite, money is a people thing. People have a to the institute and university where I schedule appointments and show up fear of getting out of their comfort now work. I brought my own on time. Include nice photos in your zone, so they drink water at the same funding, but they provided me with a proposal if you are addressing the trough all the time. The IBA grants very strong infrastructure and support private sector; they are not as rigid program can support only a few network for my project. If you don’t about protocol as agencies or aca- projects. You’ve got to step out of the attach yourself, you may have to demic institutions. Follow up with a box and be willing to go find some work extra hard at proving that you phone call or nice letter, walking the new sources, and that may mean can be trusted with other people’s fine line between being assertive and getting out of your comfort zone. money. pesky. When I first started the project, I 5. Be Creative 7. Cultivate Your Relationships bought myself a three-piece business In the desert, animals have to be Once you establish relationships suit (now that’s brave), scraped up creative to get water. I once saw a with your supporters, cultivate those enough money for a plane ticket to bighorn sheep break open a barrel relationships like a garden of gold. Washington, D.C. Why? Because I cactus to drink the juicy mush inside. Many of my supporters continued knew that was where the action was. As the typical government or NGO their funding because they enjoyed I was scared to death. I slept on a funding sources run dry, some of us working with the project. My friend’s floor, and rode the subway simply shut down our projects. favorite supporter began chatting into town every day for five days. I Worse, some of us keep trying to do with me at a folk concert. By the end made appointments to see everyone, bear research on $5 a day, which only of the evening, the donor asked me from private NGOs to federal produces really bad results and gives to submit a proposal to his private agencies. The CIA escorted me out of you a nervous breakdown. What I foundation. I did. They gave me an office building because I blun- found was an amazingly high interest $50,000 the first year, and continued dered into a basement room labeled from the private sector, including for the next four years as well. “Joint Chiefs of Staff.” One congres- companies looking for pro-environ- 8. Demonstrate Integrity sional representative overheard me ment projects. I also found an Finally, it is vitally important to say “black bears” to his secretary, and amazingly low number of biologists maintain integrity in your work. we spent two hours looking at responding to this phenomenon. Is Publish yearly reports, and demon- pictures of his mountain lion there a bread company in your strate that you are on schedule and hunting trip. Before it was over, I had country that has a teddy bear logo? producing results. Spend project appointments with several compa- Ask them if they want to sponsor money wisely because it is not your nies and agencies, and walked away your bear research. A shoe polish money. You are facilitating other from Washington with $60,000 and company named “Oso” (“bear”) gave people’s dreams, so use prudence and a new pickup truck. One donor told me $5,000 to buy a 4-wheeler. Are more money will follow. Your reputa- me they were giving me $25,000 there wealthy individuals who might tion, whether bad or good, will follow because I had the nerve to show up. like to see a bear and help out with you around like an odor. Make sure it’s Do what you have to do, and get out your field work? Ask them to fund roses they smell, and not a skunk. there and meet some people. your project. One lovely lady came to Best wishes!

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 25 Bears in Culture Hopi and Bears

Anne Ruggles the boy married the bear-woman Hopi Land Bear Canyon Consulting Group and they had two children. Black Mesa is the center of the 850 37th St. After several years he missed his universe to the Hopi of northeast Boulder, CO 80303, USA human family so he left his animal Arizona. It is a large plateau that rises Email [email protected] family to go back to his human seven thousand feet from the Painted family where he stayed for many Desert. This is the place that Masaw A Hopi Story years. The bear-woman and her (guardian spirit of the Fourth World) People were living at Wupatki. children came back to find him. To told the Hopis to go to after the clans There were enough people to permit attract his attention they ate some of had completed their migrations at gambling. Gambling was played at the corn in his fields. After several the start of the Fourth World. It is night, after the work was finished. nights of losses he gathered a group more a land of shrines and holy Initially the people played for of young men to help him find the places than it is of roads and shop- bundles of broom straws. The losers culprits. He left earlier than his ping centers. For the Hopi, land had to cook breakfast for the winners companions and found the bears. He tenure is largely religious. Their land the next day. Eventually though the drew his bow to shoot when the was promised to them at their people began to gamble real posses- mother bear attacked and killed him emergence into the Fourth World, sions and some became so addicted and returned to her home. The claimed by them after their migra- that they didn’t go to bed at night. A young man’s companions found him tions, and defined on their sacred young man was one of these. He lost and buried him. tablets—it extends from the Colo- his mother’s deerskin dress and his The bear-woman’s family retrieved rado River to the Rio Grande River father’s ceremonial kilt and embroi- his body and took it back to their and from the forested mountains to dered sash. This was a serious infrac- home in the San Franciso Peaks the north to the deserts of the south. tion. These items were precious and where they placed it in the house The land the Hopi settled is a hard should have been bequeathed to their and chanted and prayed all night. but beautiful one. children. So the boy was banished. The next morning he was alive. It Kachinas He wandered until he came to the was the work of the badger and the To the southwest of the Hopi home- San Francisco Peaks. One night, in mountain lion that revived the land are the San Francisco Moun- the middle of the forest, he lay down young man. For the next four days tains dominated by San Francisco to sleep when he heard the sounds of he took on the shape of a bear while Peak. This is one home of the something moving toward him. badger taught him the skills and Kachinas (“respected spirits:” spirits Suddenly he saw a bear rear up on its ritual of curing. When he had of the dead, of mineral, plant, bird, hind legs. He was about to run away learned all badger taught him he animal, and human entities as well when the bear addressed him. “Don’t returned, with his bear-wife and as of clouds, planets, and stars). From run away. I won’t harm you.” The children, to the home of his human December through July, Kachinas bear led him back to its home. He family where they settled in a home reside on earth and inhabit the San entered first and when the bear near his parents and sister. Francisco Mountains where they jumped down the ladder into the And so, from that day on, the man prepare rain and snow and appear as house it had its paw up to its face, took care of all the people there at clouds above the peaks. They bring looking through the claws. The bear Wupatki and he worked for the gifts for children and rain for crops. introduced him to her family: people there. His reputation spread In the past they came in person and mountain lion, badger and gopher. and he worked hard to heal people taught the Hopi their songs and One by one they each went into in the surrounding country. From dances. Now the Kachinas come in the back room and returned as that time on he fulfilled his ceremo- spirit only. The masked men who humans. The bear became a beauti- nial obligations toward the animal impersonate them become Kachinas. ful woman. That night they decided people and placed pahoes at the edge American black and brown bears to have a dance to entertain the of his field. In this way he took care were once found in the San Francisco boy so they departed. They re- of the animal people too, and in a Peaks, and, today, black bears are still turned as Kachinas, entering down way he was paying them back for there. Bear Kachinas are members of the ladder and danced the night their gift to him. the Bear Clan. Either black or white, through. Time passed. Eventually And here the story ends. they carry bear paws, and have a bear

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 26 Bears in Culture

paw depicted on the face. Their Bear Clan References wrist-guards incorporate pieces from When the Hopi emerged into the Malotki, E. 1998. Hopi Animal or are made from a bear scapula. Fourth World, Masaw told each Tales. Univ. of Nebraska Press. Hopi Society group how to make migrations Lincoln. The groups that emerged into the around the world, how to recognize Mattson, D.J., R.G. Wright, K.C. First World derived their clan names where to settle, and how to make Kendall, and C.J. Martinka. Grizzly from specific events. One clan their living. Masaw gave the Bear bears. Pp. 103-105 in LaRoe, E.T., G.S. (extended family group) came upon Clan stone tablets which are held by Farris, C.E. Puckett, P.D. Doran, and a dead bear along the Little Colorado clan members that describe his M.J. Mac, eds. Our Living Resources: River. Believing this to be a sign they instructions and include images of a report to the nation on the distri- adopted it as their clan name—Bear. bear tracks. bution, abundance, and health of Another clan, traveling some days Bear clan members have the power U.S. plants, animals, and ecosystems. after the first, came upon the bear to cure. They learned this from U.S. Department of the Interior, carcass. They found that the hair had Badger and the two are often associ- National Biological Service, Washing- been removed from the hide and ated with one another in tales, ton, D.C. used by small animals in their nests. ceremony and ritual. The bear paw is Parsons, E.C. 1939. Pueblo Indian This clan cut carrying straps from the the symbol of both the Bear Clan Religion. Vol. I and II. Univ. of remaining hide and became the Strap and of a curer. In December the Bear Nebraska Press, Lincoln. Clan. A little later another clan came Clan holds a ceremony to cure bear- Schaafssma, P., ed. 1994. Kachinas upon the carcass and found only a sent sickness (is this idea derived in the Pueblo World. Univ. of New little dried fat adhering to the bear’s from the observation of bears going Mexico Press, Albuquerque. eye sockets and they became the into and emerging from hiberna- Vaughn, M.R. and M.R. Pelton. Grease Eye Socket Clan. Yet another tion?). A curer impersonates a bear 1995. Black bears in North America. Hopi band came upon the same by pulling on bear paws (this is the Pp. 100-103 in LaRoe, E.T., G.S. carcass still later, when all that was obverse of the belief that bears can Farris, C.E. Puckett, P.D. Doran, and left was the skeleton. There were shed their skin and thus become M.J. Mac, eds. Our Living Resources: gopher holes all around the skeleton human which is found in many a report to the nation on the distri- and this clan became the Gopher cultures) and then chewing bear root bution, abundance, and health of Clan. Even later the last clan came (Eriae folius, identified by some as U.S. plants, animals, and ecosystems. upon the same bear carcass and Ligusticum parkeri an umbelliferacea, U.S. Department of the Interior, found a bluebird perched on the commonly used in herbal medicines National Biological Service, Washing- carcass eating bits of dried meat still today and reputed to be rubbed, by ton, D.C. clinging to the bones. They became bears, on the body; others identify it Waters, F. 1963. Book of the Hopi. the Bluebird Clan. All these clans are as an aster.) which gives them the Penguin Books. related and considered part of the power to cure. The plant induces a larger Bear Clan. trance-like state during which the Hopi tradition assigns priority to curer can see the cause of the illness. the Second Mesa community of Today Hopi identify Bear and Badger Shongopavi that was founded by the Clan members as curers and consult Bear Clan. As other clans arrived the them when they are ill. chief (kikmongwi) of the Bear Clan considered their contribution and assigned them lands and a place to live.

© AZA

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 27 Publications Ursus Website and Volume 14 Bear Action Plan PDF

Rich Harris Popplewell, Steven E. Franklin, The Bear Conservation Action Plan Editor, Ursus Gordon Stenhouse and Mryka Hall- is now available online from IUCN as 218 Evans Beyer. PDF files. Go to: Missoula, Montana, USA 59801 Behavioral persistence in captive http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/ Phone & Fax (406) 542-6399 bears: implications for reintroduc- actionplans/actionplanindex.htm Email [email protected] tion by Sophie S. Vickery and and scroll down to bears. Georgia J. Mason. Ursus Website Bear-Human Interactions Ursus now has it’s own website: Human injuries inflicted by bears www.ursusjournal.com. in Alberta: 1960–98 by Stephen Herrero and Andrew Higgins. Ursus Volume 14, Number 1 Knowledge and opinions of Starting with volume 14 (2003), stakeholders of American black bear Ursus will be published twice yearly, management in Virginia by Nelson in spring and autumn. Each issue W. Lafon, Steve L. McMullin and will be somewhat shorter than David E. Steffen. previous volumes, but the total Polar bear-human interactions in number of papers in each year’s Ursus Canadian national parks, 1986–2000

will be similar. Time between by Douglas Clark. © Catherine Norkin submission and publication will be Brown bear-livestock conflicts in a reduced as a result of this change. bear conservation zone in Norway: IBA members will receive both issues Are cattle a good alternative to Information of Ursus in any given year (use the sheep? by Barbara Zimmermann, form on page 33 to join). Ursus 14(1) Petter Wabakken and Michael Please will be mailed in mid-June 2003. Dötterer. Human casualties and livestock depredation by Asiatic black and Need: Ursus 14(1) Contents brown bears in the Indian Himalaya, Brown Bear Images Ecology and Behavior 1989-98 by N.P.S. Chauhan. Relationships of variable mast Anesthesia of grizzly bears using production to American black bear xylazine-zolazepam-tiletamine or Marie Osborn reproductive parameters in New zolazepam-tiletamine by Marc R. L. Dorling Kindersley, DK Designs Mexico by Cecily M. Costello, Cattet, Nigel A. Caulkett and Gordon 80 Strand Donald E. Jones, Robert M. Inman, B. Stenhouse. London WC2R 0RL, England Kristine H. Inman, Bruce C. Thomp- Short Communications Phone 20 7010 4792 son and Howard B. Quigley. Effects of pruning and brush Fax 20 7010 6729 Brown bear population structure clearing on debarking within dam- Email [email protected] in core and periphery: Analysis of aged conifer stands by Japanese black hunting statistics from Russian bears by Koji Yamazaki. I am a picture researcher at Dorling Karelia and Finland by Ilpo Kojola, Observations on food habits of Kindersley book publishers working on Pyotr I. Danilov, Hanna-Mari Laitala, Asiatic black bear in Kedarnath a children’s book for five-to-seven- Vladimir Belkin and Andrei Yakimov. wildlife sanctuary, India and prelimi- year-olds on the life-cycle of brown Microhabitat characteristics of nary evidence on their role in bears. I need images of young cubs, American black bear nest dens by enhancing seed germination and newborn to two months, preferably in Donald A. Martorello and Michael R. dispersal by S. Sathyakumar and S. the den and also shots of empty dens. Pelton. Viswanath. Please email low resolution jpg file Using landscape structure to previews to me at classify grizzly bear density in [email protected] by May. Alberta Yellowhead ecosystem bear Please supply details of prices for management units by Charlene world all languages all editions rights.

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 28 Publications Resolution of the Second International Brown and Asian Bear Symposium

The Symposium was organized with environmental causes such as fires, mental agency protection of game the support of the CIC (International growing habitat losses caused by the animals and public hunting organi- Council for Game and Wildlife disturbance of multiple human uses, zations. Conservation, website http://www.cic- etc. Conclusions wildlife.org), Dieter Schramm, Presi- About 130,000 brown bear and • Particularly in the main brown dent; and the Rosohotrybolovsoyuz approximately 6,000 Asian black bear bear countries of Eastern Europe and Association (Russian Association of indicate a drop in population com- Asia, including Russia, national Hunters and Fishermen), Alexander pared with a CIC census in the 1970s. governments are requested to perfect Ulitin, President. The Symposium is Overexploitation in parts of the legal basis for the sustainable use grateful to both groups. Eastern Europe and Asia resulted in a of the brown bear populations. Such measurable decrease of skull size, wise use must provide tangible Prologue which indicates species degradation. benefits for local communities as The brown bear (Ursus arctos) and On the positive side, in some well as for the general public as the the Asian bear (Ursus thibetanus), as European and Asian countries, IUCN-recognized tool for the game species, have long attracted the brown bear populations are growing conservation of brown bear popula- attention of the public. The CIC II because of conscientious manage- tions (especially threatened popula- International Brown and Asian Bear ment and efficient strategies of tions) and their habitats. Symposium held 4-5 November 2002 conservation and usage regulation. • The above must entail wildlife in Moscow assembled 44 scientists Goals and Objectives management education as well as and representatives of NGOs (IUCN The CIC supports the conservation communication strategies of all land Species Survival Group and hunting of viable brown bear populations in users dealing with brown bear organizations) from eight European adequate habitats through sustain- management. Therefore govern- countries including Russia. able use (ecological, economic, social ments must create channels to Prominent amongst the topics was and cultural) and with proven communicate the tasks outlined the brown bear—“the Russian bear,” benefits for local people. above. This can only be achieved a widespread species in Russia. Both Management Guidelines through the cooperative efforts of a valuable cultural resource, and, The participants of the Sympo- government agencies, scientific unfortunately, a potential pest in sium urge stakeholders to improve/ institutes, industrial enterprises, cultivated landscapes. create the legal framework for hunting and forest facilities, and The growing pressure from habitat evaluation procedures, mass media. humans on bears increasingly results objective monitoring systems, as well • The status of brown bear and in a confrontation between bears and as strict trans-boundary coordinated Asian bear groups in some regions of humans. Some territories in Russia hunting regulation of large areas Russia is cause for alarm for their have a high density of bears and across national borders. future. The Symposium recommends there is a necessity to regulate the This requires: that the Russian Ministry of Agricul- population. 1. Wildlife ecological spatial ture in cooperation with the Russian Such regulation must include planning including refuge areas Ministry of Nature work to execute habitat conservation for valuable (wilderness areas, national parks, etc.) all necessary measures of conserva- brown bear populations, as well as 2. Effective hunting rules and tion of these groups using modern for populations which are under regulations with the best manage- scientific data collection and moni- threat of elimination. Regulations ment expertise based on the October toring methods. must include IUCN sustainable use 2002 Amman Resolution of IUCN. • A detailed list of actions and principles to benefit the conserva- These cross-border coordinated descriptions of the bear situation, tion of biological diversity. hunting laws must give special including in Russia, has been Status emphasis to the elimination of illegal developed and approved by the The Symposium marked a notice- hunting practices. meeting participants. Contact: able decrease of bear populations in a 3. Objective monitoring systems Kurilov Nikolai Alexeevich number of regions of Russia, mainly are the basis of bear management Phone 7-095-459-0912 due to the lack of strict hunting laws performance control and need Fax 452 5674 (resulting in illegal hunting), various proper experts, scientists, govern- Email [email protected]

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 29 Events Fifteenth International Conference on Bear Research & Management 8-13 February 2004 San Diego, California, USA Doug Updike, Conference Chair Call for Papers Traveling From Outside USA? Wildlife Programs Branch We hope there will be a great California Department of Fish and Game Deadline 15 September 2003 foreign participation at the 15th 1812 9th Street conference in San Diego. Citizens of Sacramento, CA 95814, USA Preliminary Topics some countries are allowed to enter Phone (916) 445-3652 Bear/Human Conflicts the United States without a visa, by Fax (916) 445-4048 Field/Lab/Statistical Techniques completing a visa waiver form at the Email [email protected] Habitat Assessment/Relationships border. As of 1 October 2003, Genetics/Physiology passport requirements will increase Invited Papers Conservation Biology for citizens who enter without visas. Dave Garshelis and Sterling Miller Presentation Types After that date, passports must meet were appointed to develop a slate of 1. Oral Presentation (15 minute U.S. requirements for electronic invited papers for the San Diego speech and paper intended for publica- reading. Your electronically readable conference. Richard Callas and Dave tion in Ursus). passport may not meet the new U.S. Smith were appointed to work with 2. Poster paper intended for requirements (for example, most them on invited papers on California publication in Ursus. Norwegian passports do not). If your topics. Invited papers and lead 3. Poster paper not intended for passport does not meet these require- authors on the agenda so far are: publication in Ursus. ments, you must either obtain one or Andy Derocher (University of 4. Invited Speaker (25 minute speech). apply for a visa to attend the confer- Alberta): “Status, Trends and Risks of How to Submit an Abstract ence. In addition, Canadians now Polar Bears of the World,” English summaries of one page need proof of citizenship (birth Chuck Schwartz (USGS Inter- should be sent in WORD format on a certificate) and photo identification agency Grizzly Bear Study Team 3.5 inch disk, CD or as an attachment or a passport. A driver’s license alone Leader for Yellowstone): “A Review of to an email (ASCII format copy in the is no longer sufficient. Status and Trends of the Grizzly Bear email message is acceptable). List all For more information, visit in the Yellowstone Ecosystem,” authors and affiliations as well as www.usvisa.gov or http:// Charlie Robins (Washington State present address, phone number, fax travel.state.gov/visa_services.html University): “A Review of Physiologi- number and email address. Please (go to visitor visas), or call U.S. Visa cal Studies on Bear Nutrition,” indicate whether the summary is for a Services, Washington, D.C. (202) Chris Servheen (USFWS Grizzly paper for presentation or a poster. 663-1225 for general taped informa- Bear Recovery Coordinator): “Small Please submit summaries to Doug tion, with an option to speak with an Brown Bear Populations Worldwide: Updike at the address above. officer. The Embassy Consular A Summary of Conservation Actions Early submission is encouraged for section abroad is generally your first and Results,” papers intended for publication in point of contact to inquire about Bruce McLellan (British Columbia Ursus, as the review process is your visa application status. Forest Service): “Effects of Roads on separate from that of the conference. We hope this does not cause too Grizzly Bears,” Abstracts should be submitted to much inconvenience. (undetermined): “A Review of the Doug Updike at the address above. Decline and Extinction of the Grizzly Submit complete papers to Ursus: Bear in California.” Rich Harris, Additional topics for invited Editor, Ursus Registration papers remain under consideration. 218 Evans The August newsletter will incude Missoula, Montana, 59801, USA a registration form or register at Phone & Fax (406) 542-6399 http://www.dfg.ca.gov/iba/. Email [email protected] Website www.ursusjournal.com Hotel Two hundred rooms (US$110.00/ Sixteenth IBA Conference 2005 Italy room) have been reserved at the Bahia Plans will be reported as they develop. Resort Hotel (www.bahiahotel.com).

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 30 Events

Field Trips The conference field day is 11 February 2004. Below are some of the choices for planned activities.

Disneyland Balboa Park

Magical theme park with rides, A collection of gardens, cultural entertainment, shopping and centers and museums with dining. Variety of activities for themes ranging from fine arts, all age groups. railroad, aerospace to natural history. Visit Disneyland’s Website at: http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dlr/in Visit the Balboa Park Website at: dex http://www.balboapark.org/

San Diego Wild Animal Park San Diego Zoo Located in the hills of the San Pasqual Valley, this 1,800 acre More than 4,000 animals in a preserve is home to rare and zoo environment designed to exotic plants and animals alike. reflect the animals’ natural Take an African Safari tour habitat. Visit the central African viewing animals roaming free jungle, Gorilla Tropics and Polar in their natural habitat. Bear Plunge.

Visit the SD Wild Animal Park Visit the SD Zoo Website at: Website at: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/zoo/home http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wap/hom page.php3 epage.php3

Deep Sea Fishing Trip Whale Watching/Pelagic Birding Trip Take a morning or afternoon deep sea fishing trip for Take a 3 or 5 hour tour off the halibut, yellowtail, tunas, bass, coast of California for the barracuda and other ocean ultimate pelagic birding species. experience and viewing of migrating whales. For prices visit the Excursions Website at: For prices visit the Excursions http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting/bear/ib Website at: a/excursions.htm http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hunting/bear/iba /excursions.htm

Sea World Park Admission:

An educational theme park filled adventure rides, marine life exhibits, interactive feeding exhibits with dolphins, a wild arctic research center with a simulated jet helicopter, and shows featuring Shamu the orca.

Visit the Sea World Website at: http://www.buschgardens.com/seaworld/ca/

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 31 International Bear News

The quarterly newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA). Editor: Teresa DeLorenzo, Design Editor: Cynthia Cheney, Conservation Publications, Inc. International Bear News, ISSN #1064-1564 10907 NW Copeland St., Portland, Oregon 97229-6145, USA Phone (503) 643-4008, Fax (503) 643-4072, Email [email protected] Website www.bearbiology.com/www.bearbiology.org

Editorial Policy International Bear News welcomes articles about biology, conservation and/or management of the world’s eight bear species. Submissions of a maximum 750-1500 words are preferred, and relevant photos, drawings and charts are appreci- ated. Electronic submissions to [email protected] are preferred, otherwise mail or fax to the address above. IBA reserves the right to accept, reject, edit or shorten submissions. Deadline for the August 2003 issue is 15 July 2003.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue. Artwork is copyrighted—do not reproduce without permission. Thank you to CityGraphics, Portland, Oregon, USA for generously discounting the cost of printing.

Membership Use the form on the page 33 to order or renew memberships, make donations, and update member information.

IBA Officers and Council

Harry Reynolds, President* Frank van Manen, Treasurer* Bruce McLellan, Past President* Alaska Department of Fish and Game U.S. Geological Survey British Columbia Forest Service 1300 College Road Southern Appalachian Field Laboratory Research Branch Fairbanks, AK 99701, USA University of Tennessee RPO #3, Box 9158 Phone (907) 459-7238 274 Ellington Hall Revelstoke, B.C. V0E 3K0, Canada Fax (907) 451-9723 Knoxville, TN 37996, USA Phone (250) 837-7767 Email [email protected] Phone (865) 974-0200 Fax (250) 837-7626 Fax (865) 974-3555 Email [email protected] Jon Swenson, Vice President for Eurasia^ Email [email protected] Dept. of Biology and Nature Conservation Karen Noyce* Agricultural University of Norway Andrew Derocher* Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources Postbox 5014 Department of Biological Science 1201 East Highway 2 N-1432 Ås, Norway University of Alberta Grand Rapids, MN 55744, USA Phone 47-64 94 85 30 Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E9, Canada Phone (218) 327-4432 Fax 47-64 94 85 02 Phone 1 780 492 5570 Fax (218) 327-4181 Email [email protected] Fax 1 780 492 9234 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Sterling Miller, Vice President for Americas* Chuck Schwartz* National Wildlife Federation Isaac Goldstein^ Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team 240 North Higgins, Suite 2 PO Box 833 Forestry Sciences Lab, Montana State University Missoula, MT 59802, USA IPOSTEL Merida Bozeman, MT 59717, USA Phone (406) 721-6705 Estado Merida, Venezuela Phone (406) 994-5043 Fax (406) 721-6714 Phone 58-414-7176792 Fax (406) 994-6416 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Email [email protected]

Joseph Clark, Secretary* John Hechtel* Michael R. Vaughan^ U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Department of Fish and Game Virginia Cooperative Southern Appalachian Field Laboratory 1800 Glenn Highway, Suite 4 Fish and Wildlife Research Unit University of Tennessee Palmer, AK 99645, USA 148 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Tech 274 Ellington Hall Phone (907) 746-6331 Blacksburg, VA 24061-0321, USA Knoxville, TN 37996, USA Fax (907) 746-6305 Phone (540) 231-5046 Phone (865) 974-4790 Email [email protected] Fax (540) 231-7580 Fax (865) 974-3555 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Djuro Huber^ University of Zagreb Richard B. Harris Biology Department, Veterinary Faculty Ursus Editor (non-voting) Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb 218 Evans Republic of Croatia Missoula, MT 59801, USA *term expires 2004 Phone 385 1 2390 141 Phone & Fax (406) 542-6399 ^term expires 2005 Fax 385 1 244 1390 Email [email protected] Email [email protected]

International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 32 IBA Membership Application Please Complete Both Sides of Form. Mail or Fax to Address Below.

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International Bear News May 2003 vol. 12, no. 2 34 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 inc. w/ Std. Membership $45.00 *40% discount for 3 or more volumes, except Ursus 13. Less 40% Discount (-$) 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 15th 2002 Massachusetts 1999 $15.00 16th 2001 South Carolina 2001 $15.00 Western Black Bear Workshop Proceedings, USA 1st 1979 Arizona 1979 $15.00 4th 1993 California 1991 $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 Monographs of the IBA A Proposed Delineation of Critical Grizzly Bear Habitat in the Yellowstone Region (#1, 1977)

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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 700 members from over 45 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 annual 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 transla- tion 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.

Deadline for the August 2003 issue is 15 July 2003 printed with soy-based ink on Vanguard Recycled Plus chlorine-free, acid-free, 10% hemp or flax, 90% post-consumer waste paper