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Brown Bear Population Characteristics at Mcneil

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Brown Bear Population Characteristics at Mcneil BROWN BEAR POPULATIONCHARACTERISTICS AT MCNEILRIVER, ALASKA RICHARDA. SELLERS,Alaska Departmentof Fish and Game, P.O. Box 37, KingSalmon, AK 99613 LARRYD. AUMILLER,Alaska Departmentof Fish and Game, 333 RaspberryRoad, Anchorage, AK 99518 Abstract:Observations of recognizablebrown bears (Ursus arctos) at McNeilRiver State Game Sanctuary (MRSGS) during 1963-91 provided long-termdata on populationsize, sex andage composition,reproductive success, and survival rates. Bearsusing MRSGS increased from 66 (SE = 5.8) during1969-84 to 113 (SE = 8.5) during1987-91. Adultsex ratioaveraged 121 males/100females. This reflecteda low exploitationrate and greater seasonal movements of malebears. Adultsurvival rates averaged 0.94 formales and 0.93 for females. Since1963, 31%of 168 cubsdisappeared between 0.5 and1.5 yearsof age. Kaplan-Meierestimates of summersurvival rates were 0.67 for cubsand 0.89 for yearlings. Twentyfemales, observed for a totalof 242 bear-years,raised 83 yearlingsin 47 litters. Lifetimerecruitment for 11 females observedfrom sexual maturity to presumeddeath averaged 2 (range0-8) yearlings.Despite the high ratio of adultmales to femalesand increased populationsize, we did not detecta density-dependentsuppression of cub productionor survival. Int. Conf. Bear Res. and Manage. 9(1):283-293 Brown bears are a K-selected species (Cowan et al. possible at McNeil River because of the presence of 1974). Absent substantial human-induced mortality, habituated,individually recognizable bears that visit the populations should stabilize at carryingcapacity and be site to catch salmon during mid-summer. In this paper, regulated by density-dependentmechanisms, including we build upon earlier data collected at this site and one or more of the following: lower reproductive compare contemporary values with earlier results rates, lower survival rates, and higher dispersal rates. (Glenn et al. 1976, Modafferi 1984). We continued Bunnell and Tait (1981) suggested that reproductive monitoringrecognizable bears, as well as total numbers rates for bears are influencedprimarily by nutritionand and composition; these data allow estimation of are largely density independent. They furthersuggested reproductiveand survival rates. This study eventually that mortality factors, including dispersal, were most will be combined with a separate study in adjacent likely to regulate populations. Their evaluations and KatmaiNP to furthertest the hypothesis that population most studies have focused on bear populationssubjected regulatory mechanisms differ between these high to significant human-caused mortality where intrinsic density, protected populations and moderately population dynamics may be obscured. harvested, lower density populations elsewhere in Continuing debate over grizzly bear population southwesternAlaska. dynamics in Yellowstone National Park (Mattson and The dedicated field staff at MRSGS have made this Reid 1991, McLellan 1994) illustrates the need for paper possible through their efforts to maintain long-term study of bear populations, especially where identificationrecords of individualbears, both daily and human influences are minimal. Within the contiguous between years. Since 1976 these have included M.A. 48 states and Canadian provinces, no single Ramsey, P. Hessing, C.A. Matt, and D. Stonorov. jurisdictional land holding is large enough to provide J.B. Faro, and C.A. Smith were instrumental in the level of protection necessary to allow natural developing and managing the MRSGS program. J. regulatory mechanisms to play a dominant role in Faro, S. Miller, C. Schwartz, R. Squibb, and 2 population dynamics (Pearson 1975, Martinka 1982, anonymous referees provided helpful reviews of this McLellan 1989). Even within Alaska, only a few brown paper. This study was funded by the Alaska bear populations under study (e.g., Denali National Departmentof Fish and Game (ADF&G). Park and MRSGS-KatmaiNational Park [KatmaiNP]) are influenced primarilyby naturalfactors. Recent studies using radio transmittershave greatly STUDY AREA increased knowledge of brown bear reproductiveand The MRSGS (Fig. 1) is approximately 340 km survival rates and other population parameters for southwest of Anchorage on Kamishak Bay at the base several Alaskan bear populations subject to significant of the Alaska Peninsula. The area was described by impacts from humans (Miller 1987, Schoen and Beier Faro and Eide (1974), Glenn et al. (1976), Egbert 1990, Ballard et al. 1991, Smith and VanDaele 1991, (1978), Bledsoe (1987), and Aumiller and Matt (1994). and Reynolds 1993). Only a few studies have been able The McNeil River drainagewas closed to bear hunting to follow individualbears for more than 2 reproductive in 1955 and in 1967 was legislatively designated a state cycles. sanctuaryencompassing about 340 km2. A presidential Long-term study of individual-lifehistories has been proclamation in 1978 and subsequent legislation 284 Int. Conf. Bear Res. and Manage.9(1) 1994 Aumiller from 1976 to 1991, classified bears as subadults (bears estimated <5) or adults. Survival rates were calculated only for recognizable adults and for offspring of such bears. Cub survival was measured by comparing average litter sizes for cubs (refers to bears < 1 year old) and yearling litters, by documenting the disappearanceof offspring of known females between their first and second summers, and by calculatingsummer survival rates for cubs and yearlings using the Kaplan-Meiertechnique (Pollock et al. 1989). For this last approach, offspring were censored once the family left the study area. Salmon escapements were estimated primarily from aerial surveys conductedby fisheries biologists from the Commercial Fisheries Division of ADF&G. These surveys provide an index to salmon abundancebetween years. Spearman'scoefficient of rank correlation was used to test the hypothesis of density dependentregulation of recruitment. Means were compared using t test. Fig. 1. Locations of McNeil River State Game Sanctuary and McNeil River bears seen or killed outside the sanctuary. RESULTSAND DISCUSSION expanded Katmai NP (formally a national monument). Population Size and Density In 1986 the state Board of Game closed bear huntingon Enumeration and classification of bears using an additional 300 km2 of state land between MRSGS MRSGS has improved in the 37 years since McNeil and Katmai NP, putting MRSGS on the northernedge was first publicized. Early accounts of bears seen at of an area of about 15,600 km2 closed to bear hunting McNeil Falls provide a useful historical baseline to our (Fig. 1). data. Rhodes (1954) counted 32 bears in one day. I. Brown bears are attractedto the sanctuaryin June to Marx, a stream guard stationed at McNeil from 6 May feed on a small intertidal sedge (Carex lyngbyaei) to 10 August 1958, accounted for at least 115 different meadow and an early run of red salmon (Oncorhynchus bears during the course of the summer and saw 58 at nerka) in Mikfik Creek. Bear numbers build during once (I. Marx, field notes 1958). The reliability of June and the first half of July and peak the last 2 weeks Marx's observations is unknown, but details were of July when chum salmon (0. keta) are available at presented comparing an independent morning aerial McNeil Falls, a short stretch of rapids that impedes the count of 53 bears with a minimumof 87 different bears migration of salmon 1.8 km upstreamfrom salt water. seen from the ground that day by Marx (Rausch 1958). By mid-August bear numbers decline by up to 80% as In 1991, 7 morning aerial surveys of McNeil River and bears move to other river systems or begin foraging for McNeil Lagoon between 15 July and 4 August tallied berries. an average of 58% of the bears cataloged from ground counts during the same days (ADF&G, unpubl. data). Based on the 1991 comparisons and results of other METHODS studies comparing aerial counts with ground The observation period at MRSGS varied within the observations (Erickson and Siniff 1963, V.G. Barnes, dates of 23 May to 19 Septemberand most consistently U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv., Kodiak, Alaska, pers. covered June through August. Daily observations commun.), Marx's tally of 64% more bears than seen typically occurred from mid-morningto early evening. during the aerial survey seems plausible. From 1963 to Bears were identified and catalogued based on sex, 1967 the total number of bears observed during the estimated age, and distinguishing characteristics, peak of bear activity was estimatedat 30-35 (ADF&G, including both physical and behavioral traits. Where unpubl. data), and the highest numberof different bears age was not known, experienced observers, including recognized in one day was 13 in 1967. In 1968 a MCNEILRIVER BROWN BEAR POPULATION * Sellers and Aumiller 285 minimumof 30 independentbears and 18 offspringwas and KatmaiNP. Three other markedMcNeil bears recorded. were killed by huntersin this area. Thus by 1986, Thereare severalpossible reasons for the apparent expansionof KatmaiNP andthe stateclosure protected decline in bear use from 1958 throughthe 1960s. bears in an area where 75% of the previousknown Duringthe 1960s, biologistswere generally present for harvestof McNeilbears had occurred. The areanorth less than a month and concentratedtheir efforts on and northwestof the sanctuaryremains open to bear capturingbears. Consequentlythey did not devotefull huntingon an alternatingseason schedule,i.e., since attentionto identifyingunmarked bears, and their 1975 huntsoccurred in Octoberof odd yearsand May counts
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