PROCEEDINGS of the Cecily M. Costello, Editor PROCEEDINGS OF THE EIGHTH WESTERN BLACK BEAR WORKSHOP 15-17 April 2003 Chico Hot Springs Resort, Pray, Montana Cecily M. Costello Editor SPONSORS Wildlife Conservation Society – Hornocker Wildlife Institute Grand Teton National Park International Association for Bear Research and Management Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks The Wildlife Society, Northwest Section USGS Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team Yellowstone National Park Suggested citation: Author’s name(s). 2005. Paper title. Western Black Bear Workshop 8:___–___. Wildlife Conservation Society 2023 Stadium Drive, Suite 1A Bozeman, MT 59715, USA Information on how to order additional copies of this volume or other volumes in this series, as well as volumes of Ursus, the official publication of the International Association for Bear Research and Management, may be obtained from the IBA web site: www.bearbiology.com, from the IBA newsletter International Bear News, or from Terry D. White, University of Tennessee, Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, P. O. Box 1071, Knoxville, TN 37901- 1071, USA. TABLE OF CONTENTS Note: The Table of Contents has been formatted to reflect chronology of the Workshop program. Preface…………………………...……………………………………………………………...….……………… vi ORAL PRESENTATIONS Keynote Address HISTORY AND RESPONSIBILITY Howard Quigley…………..……...………………………………………………….…………………………. 1 State and Provincial Status Reports Session chair: Chuck Schwartz, USGS Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team ARIZONA Vashti Supplee……………………………………………………………………………………………...….. 4 CALIFORNIA Douglas Updike………………………………..………………………………………………………………. 6 COLORADO Jerry A. Apker……...…………………………………………………………………………………………… 14 IDAHO Steve Nadeau………………………...…………………………………………………………….…..……… 21 MONTANA Gary Olsen…………...…………………………………………………………………………………………. 24 NEVADA Carl Lackey…………………………………………………………………………………………….……….. 27 NEW MEXICO Rick Winslow……...…………………………………………………………………………………..………... 29 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Robert J. Gau……………………………………………………...…………………………………….……... 33 TEXAS David Holdermann……………………………………………………...……………………………………… 35 UTAH Craig R. McLaughlin…..……………………………………………………………………………….……… 39 WASHINGTON Donald A. Martorello and Richard A. Beausoleil………...…………………………………………………. 47 WYOMING Scott Becker, Ron Grogan, Dave Moody, and Dan Bjornlie……..……………………………………….. 49 iii Conflict Management and Capture Methods Session chair: John Hechtal, Alaska Department of Fish and Game ALLIANCE BETWEEN AGENCY AND PRIVATE FACILITY REHABILITATES BLACK BEARS IN DROUGHT-STRICKEN COLORADO Susan B. Deiterich, Herman F. Deiterich, Stan F. Abel, Charles W. Wagner, and Scott A. Wait……. 56 Invited Speaker IMPROVING THE STANDARDS OF CARE IN WILD-CAUGHT BEARS – Abstract John B. Murnane……………………………………………………………………………………….……… 65 Population Biology and Field Research Session Chair: Craig McLaughlin, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources BLACK BEAR HARVEST IN MONTANA: AN UPDATE ON STATE-WIDE HARVEST LEVELS AND TRENDS – Abstract Richard D. Mace and Tonya L. Chilton…………………..…………………………………………………. 66 TRENDS IN UTAH’S BEAR HARVEST – Abstract Josh Heward and Hal L. Black………………………………………………………………………………. 67 MARK-SIGHT DENSITY ESTIMATION FOR BLACK BEARS – Abstract Sean M. Matthews, Richard T. Golightly, and J. Mark Higley……………………………………….....… 68 SCIENCE DESIGN FOR PROPOSED NORTHERN DIVIDE GRIZZLY BEAR POPULATION ESTIMATE – Abstract Kate Kendall, Marci Johnson, and Jeff Stetz………………………………………………………………. 69 ESTIMATION OF BLACK BEAR HARVEST RATES IN MONTANA USING DNA RECAPTURE METHODS – Abstract Richard D. Mace and Tonya L. Chilton……………………………………………………………………... 70 THE REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF BLACK BEARS IN MONTANA – Abstract Kieth Aune and Neil Anderson…………………………………………………………….…………....…… 71 MOVEMENTS OF UTAH BLACK BEARS: IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION Janene Auger, Joshua D. Heward, Hal. L. Black, and Guy Wallace…………………………….………. 72 UNCONTROLLED FIELD PERFORMANCE OF TELEVILT GPS-SIMPLEX COLLARS ON GRIZZLY BEARS IN WESTERN AND NORTHERN CANADA – Abstract Robert J. Gau, Robert Mulders, Lana M. Ciarniello, Douglas C. Heard, Cheryl-Lesley B. Chetkiewicz, Mark Boyce, Robin Munro, Gordon Stenhouse, Bryan Chruszcz, Michael L. Gibeau, Brian Milakovic,and Katherine L. Parker……………………………………………………………….…… 81 Bear-human Interactions Session Chair: Sterling Miller, National Wildlife Federation QUANTIFYING BEAR POPULATIONS AND BEAR-HUMAN CONFLICTS IN THE KENNICOTT VALLEY OF WRANGELL- ST. ELIAS NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA – Abstract James M. Wilder, R. G. Wright, Lisette P. Waits, and Carl D. Mitchell………………………………..… 82 HUMAN-BLACK BEAR INTERACTIONS IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK – Abstract Sean M. Matthews, Brenda Lackey, John Beecham, and Sam Ham…………………………………… 83 BEAR-HUMAN MANAGEMENT ON PHILMONT SCOUT RANCH Bob Ricklefs………………………………………………………………………………………….………... 84 iv CAN A BEAR-PROOF SYSTEM BE COST-EFFECTIVE? BEAR-PROOFING RESIDENTIAL WASTE COLLECTION IN CANMORE, ALBERTA – Abstract Dennis Neufeldt…….……………………………………………………………………………………...… 91 “WE CAN LIVE WITH BEARS”: A BEAR EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR NORTHERN UTAH – Abstract Barbara Walker and Jordan C. Pederson……….……………………………………………………...… 92 HUMAN-BLACK BEAR INTERACTIONS IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK: A VISITOR STUDY – Abstract Brenda K. Lackey and Sam H. Ham….………………………………………………………………….... 93 POSTER PRESENTATIONS FOOD HABITS OF BLACK BEARS IN YOSEMITE VALLEY, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, 2001-2002 – Abstract Schuyler Greenleaf, Sean Matthews, John Beecham, and Gerald Wright…………………….……… 94 PRESERVATION OF A HEALTHY BLACK BEAR POPULATION IN THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAIN RANGE THROUGH INTERAGENCY COOPERATION – Abstract Rachel Mazur, Calder Reid, and Tori Seher…….………………………………………………………... 95 LANDSCAPE ANALYSIS OF BLACK BEAR DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS IN OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK – Abstract K. A. Sager, K. J. Jenkins, P. J. Happe, J. J. Beecham, and R. G. Wright……………………………. 96 LIST OF PARTICIPANTS…………………………………………………………………………………….... 97 WESTERN BLACK BEAR WORKSHOP BYLAWS……………….……………………………………….. 102 v Preface The 8th Western Black Bear Workshop was held on 15-17 April 2003 at beautiful Chico Hot Springs Resort, Montana, not far from the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The Workshop was attended by 70 people representing ecosystems from Alaska to New Mexico. Although attendance was down, compared to recent Workshops in Washington and Oregon, participants were still rewarded with a diverse set of topics and points of view. The agenda included sessions for presentations and posters, which have been included in this volume as status reports, abstracts, or peer-reviewed papers. In addition, attendees were offered a special workshop demonstrating use of Program MARK for estimating survival and population size (led by Gary White of Colorado State University and Mark Haroldson of the USGS Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team); two panel discussions related to bear-human interactions; a banquet program by Paul Schullery of Yellowstone National Park entitled “Yogi lives: the evolving image of bears in Yellowstone”; and a field trip into the northern range of Yellowstone Park (led by Mike Yochim of Yellowstone Association Institute, Kerry Gunther and Doug Smith of Yellowstone National Park, and Toni Ruth of Wildlife Conservation Society). I would like to thank all of the participants, sponsors, and members of the organizing committee for their help in making this Workshop a success. Among interested individuals unable to attend the Workshop, lack of funds (especially for out-of-state or foreign travel) appeared to be the most common impediment. For this reason, I invited submission of written status reports from agencies not represented at the meeting. As a result, I have included reports from Arizona, California, Nevada, Northwest Territories, and Texas in this volume, along with the seven reports presented at the Workshop. I would like to thank all of the authors and referees for contributing to the Proceedings, especially those authors of peer-reviewed papers who endured a long revision process. I would also like to thank Karrie West (Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team) for help with technical editing, and Ray Paunovich for providing the original photograph used in the cover design. Cecily Costello Workshop Chair vi KEYNOTE SPEAKER HISTORY AND RESPONSIBILITY HOWARD QUIGLEY, Beringia South, P.O. Box 160, Kelly, Wyoming 83011, USA, [email protected] A sincere welcome to all of you and thank you for of you to make it worthwhile. And, I guess I should coming to this important workshop. I am not only here say, I didn’t plan on standing up here; it wasn’t what I to welcome you and say thanks for coming, though. I planned when I got the call at the Hornocker Wildlife am here to drop some perspective into the mix before Institute three years ago inquiring whether we would we get started with the workshop sessions. Just the fact host the workshop. Since this is normally the place that you are here says you believe the black bear is where you put somebody to reflect, to give perspective, important. And, your presence says that the things we and to rally the troops to move forward, I had originally can do in this forum are worth your time. strongly recommended that we get one of the old For those of you that are here for the first time, stalwarts of bear biology from the region. Well, the please take advantage of the wonderful environment jokes on me; maybe I’m older than I thought. I did sort around us here. The Greater Yellowstone Area is of expect a Craighead, or a Jonkel up here. But,