Cabinet-Yaak Grizzly Bear Recovery 2011 Research and Monitoring Progress Report
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CABINET-YAAK GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY AREA 2011 RESEARCH AND MONITORING PROGRESS REPORT PREPARED BY WAYNE F. KASWORM, HARRY CARRILES, THOMAS G. RADANDT, JUSTIN E. TEISBERG, MICHAEL PROCTOR, AND CHRISTOPHER SERVHEEN 2012 UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE GRIZZLY BEAR RECOVERY COORDINATOR'S OFFICE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MAIN HALL ROOM 309 MISSOULA, MONTANA 59812 (406) 243-4903 Information contained in this report is preliminary and subject to change. Please obtain permission prior to citation. Please cite this report as following: Kasworm, W. F., H. Carriles, T. G. Radandt, J.E. Teisberg, M. Proctor, and C. Servheen. 2011. Cabinet-Yaak grizzly bear recovery area 2011 research and monitoring progress report. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Missoula, Montana. 90 pp. Abstract: Grizzly bear research in the Cabinet Mountains indicated that only a small population remained as of 1988. Concern over persistence of grizzly bear populations within this area resulted in a pilot program in 1990 that tested population augmentation techniques. Four subadult female bears with no history of conflicts with humans were captured in southeast British Columbia and moved to the Cabinet Mountains for release during 1990-94. Three of four transplanted bears remained within the target area for at least one year. Hair snag sampling and DNA analysis during 2002-11 identified one of the original transplanted bears. The animal was a 2 year-old female when released in 1993. Genetic analysis also identified at least 9 first generation offspring and 8 second generation offspring from this individual. The success of the augmentation test program prompted additional augmentation in cooperation with Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. Seven female bears and 2 male bears were moved from the Flathead River to the Cabinet Mountains during 2005-11. Two of these individuals died during their first year from human related causes. One was illegally shot and one was struck by a train. Three bears moved back to near their original capture sites. Research and monitoring in the Yaak River began in 1986 with the capture and collaring of 2 grizzly bears. Including those captures, 42 bears have been captured and monitored through telemetry, 1986–2011. Recovery plan criteria regarding numbers of females with cubs in the Cabinet-Yaak grizzly bear recovery zone (CYGBRZ) varied from 1-4 per year and averaged 2.5 per year from 2006-11. Human caused mortality averaged 1.2 bears per year and 0.3 females per year. Eight known or probable human caused mortalities have occurred in or within 10 miles of the CYGBRZ in the U.S. during 2006-11. Human caused mortalities included two adult females (both self-defense), 3 adult males (2 under investigation and a black bear mistaken identity), 2 subadult males (black bear mistaken identity and self-defense), and one subadult bear of unknown sex (under investigation).Twelve of 22 bear management units had sightings of females with young during 2006-11. A minimum of 42 bears were identified in the CYGBRZ during 2006-11 after known mortality was subtracted. This minimum was based on captures, genetic information, mortality, and sightings of unique individuals. Sixty-one known and probable grizzly bear mortalities from all causes were documented inside or within 16 km of the CYGBRZ (including Canada) during 1982-2011. Mortality causes, timing, and locations were analyzed for 1983-11. The finite rate of increase () for 1983–2011 was 0.984 (95% C.I. 0.882–1.069). Finite rate of change in the population was an annual -1.6% for the period. Subadult female survival and adult female survival accounted for most of the uncertainty in . The probability that the population was declining was 64%. However data from the last 5 years indicate an improving situation. Sex and age specific survival and reproductive rates were updated and reported. Capture, monitoring, and habitat use data was updated and reported for 1983-2011. Berry counts indicated near average production for huckleberry and serviceberry, lower than average mountain-ash production, and greater than average production of buffaloberry in 2011. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Abstract.............................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Table of Contents............................................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Objectives........................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Study Area.......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Methods.............................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Grizzly Bear Observations............................................................................................................................................. 8 Survival and Mortality Calculations.............................................................................................................................. 8 Reproduction................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Population Growth Rate................................................................................................................................................. 9 Capture and Marking...................................................................................................................................................... 10 Hair Sampling for DNA Analysis................................................................................................................................... 11 Radio Monitoring............................................................................................................................................................ 12 Berry Transects……………………………..................…………………………………………………..........…................... 13 ResultsProductionProducductionTransec and Discussion...................................................................................................................ts.............................................................................................................................................................. 13 Grizzly Bear Observations and Recovery Plan Criteria.............................................................................................. 13 Grizzly Bear Minimum Numbers……............................................................................................................................. 21 Cabinet Mountains Population Augmentation............................................................................................................. 25 Cabinet Mountains Hair Sampling and DNA Analysis................................................................................................. 26 ............…………………….Analysis................................................................................................ Known Grizzly Bear Mortality......................................................................................................................... .................. 30 Grizzly Bear Mortality, Reproduction, and Population Trend..................................................................................... 34 Native Grizzly Bear Survival and Cause-specific Mortality…...…..……………………............................................. 34 Augmentation Grizzly Bear Survival and Cause-specific Mortality…...…..………………….............….................. 35 Native Grizzly Bear Reproduction..................................………………………………................................................. 35 Population Trend………………………..……………….…………………………............….........................................… 36 Capture and Marking...................................................................................................................................................... 38 MMMarkingn......................................................................... Cabinet Mountains.................…….................................................................................................................................................. ........................... 38 Yaak River..................................................................................................................................................................... 39 Salish Mountains................…...………………………………………………...................……………............................. 39 Moyie and Kootenay River Valleys, British Columbia.........................................................……...............………… 43 Selkirk Mountains........................................................................................................................................................ 43 Cabinet Mountains Augmentation Captures, Montana and British Columbia......................................................