International Bear News Quarterly Newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) and IUCN/SSC Bear Specialist Group February 2008 Vol. 17 no. 1 © NPS,DeBruyn D. Terry Trouble in the Middle East for bears as well as humans? See how bears are faring in Iran and Pakistan on pages 28 and 29. IBA websites: www.bearbiology.org www.bearbiology.com Ursus website: www.ursusjournal.com Table of Contents Council News River Bucaral in the 3 From the President Portuguesa Mountain Range, 3 Research and Conservation Grants Lara State, Venezuela Program 2007-08 Student Forum 18th IBA Conference 32 Student Forum 5 18th IBA Conference Mexico – 33 Student List Serve Great Papers, Great Food, and No Stolen Kidneys Bears in Culture 14 Global Warming/Climate Change 34 Archaeobiological Assessment of a and Its Effects on World Bear Species Grizzly Claw Necklace Attributed to the Lewis & Clark Expedition (1804-1806) Bear: Specialist Group 17 Bear Specialist Group Meeting Publications in Mexico 36 February 2008 Recent Bear Literature 23 News and Views from the Trade in Bear Parts Expert Team Communications 24 Bear Specialist Group 36 International Bear Cub Newsletter is out! 36 Hair Loss Among Bears – Eurasia North American Zoo Survey 25 Greece: Bears Have Sensitive Ear To 37 Seeking Input and Information to Highway Construction Noise Document Bear Trap Design 26 Brown Bears in Yakutia 37 BEARTREK Campaign and Film 28 Brown Bears in Iran Underway – an update 29 News from Pakistan: Bears Facing Serious Problems Again Events 38 10th Western Black Bear Workshop Americas 30 Polar Bears International: IBA In-Field Lecture Program 39 IBA Membership Application 31 Fragmentation of the Forest Habitat 41 IBA Publications Order Form of the Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos 43 IBA Officers and Council ornatos) in the High Basin of the 44 IBA Mission Statement Cover photo of an Alaskan brown bear courtesy of Terry D. DeBruyn, National Park Service. International Bear News, ISSN #1064-1564, quarterly newsletter of the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA) Editors: Matt Durnin (Managing), Jordan Schaul (Correspondence), Janissa Balcomb (Layout), Jim Tomlin (Production/Distribution), Tanya Rosen (Translation) PO Box 462, Brookeville MD 20833 USA, Phone: +1 415-321-8369, Fax: +1 415-321-8637 Email: [email protected], Websites: www.bearbiology.com www.bearbiology.org Back issues are available at www.bearbiology.com Editorial Policy International Bear News welcomes articles about biology, conservation, and management of the world’s eight bear species. Submissions of about 750 words are preferred, and photos, drawings, and charts are appreciated. Submissions to [email protected] are preferred; otherwise, mail or fax to the address above. IBA reserves the right to accept, reject, and edit submissions. Deadline for the May 2008 issue is April 5, 2008 Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue. Artwork is copyrighted – do not reproduce without permission. Membership Use the form on page 39 to order or renew memberships, make donations, and/or update member information. 2 International Bear News February 2008, vol. 17 no. 1 Council News Although the new Council already portunity to continue IBA’s mission by From the President has many things to tackle, a couple fostering good management and con- of issues will be on the forefront for a servation of all 8 bear species through Frank van Manen while. One is that the greatest con- science and education. We have an USGS Southern Appalachian servation challenges facing bears are enthusiastic Council with many fresh Field Laboratory in portions of the world from where ideas in support of that mission. Take University of Tennessee we have relatively few members. We some time to familiarize yourself with 274 Ellington Hall will be focusing much attention in the the Council members (see second to Knoxville TN 37996, USA coming years on expanding our mem- last page of this newsletter or visit our Phone: +1 865-974-0200 bership outside of North America and website). Please feel free to share your Email: [email protected] playing a more prominent role in areas ideas and concerns with me or anyone where the need for science-based else on Council, we want to hear from The year 2008 is still very young as conservation is high. Ultimately, we you! r I’m writing this column. Our former hope such actions build local capacity President, Harry Reynolds, always and support to sustain conservation in provided a short note on the weather the long term. Further strengthening conditions in Fairbanks, Alaska, which of the partnerships between IBA and were arguably more exciting than the Bear Specialist Group (BSG) and Research and what I can offer you from the relatively Polar Bear Specialist Group will also mild conditions in the Great Smoky Conservation be an important goal. The BSG held Mountains of east Tennessee. How- a meeting at the end of the confer- Grants Program ever, we just had the first light dusting ence in Monterrey, Mexico, which of snow this season, which probably 2007-08 was very well attended and resulted sent people scrambling for the grocery in valuable exchange of information stores to stock up on bread and milk! Frederick C. Dean (Chair) and ideas regarding bear populations As always, the black bears take it all 810 Ballaine Road in all portions of the world. Together in stride and have denned up, waiting Fairbanks AK 99709-6606, USA with the specialist groups we will be for March or April before they start Phone: +1 907-479-6607 exploring ways to further encourage wandering about. Email: [email protected] that type of informal exchange at In the previous newsletter, Harry future conferences. discussed many important IBA ac- The following information is a brief Collectively, you, as members complishments during the past 6 summary of the proposals received by of IBA, represent the largest body years. Decisions by IBA councils the Research and Conservation Grants of knowledge regarding all 8 bear played an important role in those Committee (RCGC) by the submission species. Our conferences, our journal accomplishments. Many of those deadline of December 31, 2007. Ursus, and this newsletter have decisions were very difficult but they Total number of proposals active at provided great ways to share that were ultimately effective; I want to the deadline = 19. knowledge. Yet, I believe we can do recognize the previous Councils that Total number of dollars requested more to profile ourselves better so that ≅ helped establish a solid membership, from IBA US$126,000. governments, NGOs, and the general increase the stature and readership public know that IBA is the organiza- of our technical journal Ursus, and The RCGC has been working on tion to turn to for reliable information expand IBA’s Research and Conserva- several statements regarding commit- regarding bear conservation. That tion grants program. tee policy and guidelines. These will leads to another important item we IBA Council has undergone quite be announced in the International will focus on over the next year, the a few changes, with the IBA member- Bear Newsletter (IBN) as the final IBA website. The website has already ship electing 4 new officers (President, versions are approved; they will also undergone an incredible transforma- Vice-President for Americas, Secre- be posted on the IBA Website as tion and our plan is to further expand tary, and Treasurer) and 3 new council appropriate. Unfortunately, none had its capabilities. Our goal here is to members in November. Council also been finally cleared by all members make the website more informative appointed one additional member. of the committee in time to make the and interactive as well as the central We probably have better international last issue of the IBN. The first of the place to renew memberships, register and geographical representation on statements concerns grants for pro- for conferences, make donations, Council than ever before, an impor- posals to fund “bear aware” programs order back issues of Ursus, etc. tant step towards IBA growing into or purchase of bear-resistant garbage I am honored to represent IBA as a truly international organization. containers. This has been agreed to President and I look forward to the op- and is included below. International Bear News February 2008, vol. 17 no. 1 3 Council News maintaining people in the interface Requested from Species Country - region between “human country” and “bear IBA (USD) country.” IBA’s role should be to assist H. malayanus Captive $5,000.00 the development of policies and proce- dures in areas where these may be new H. malayanus & and where there is true financial need U. maritimus Captive $5,666.00 as well as a need from the perspective M. ursinus India $6,900.00 of bear conservation. T. ornatus Peru $10,000.00 The RCGC is establishing the fol- T. ornatus Columbia $10,000.00 lowing general guidelines with regard to funding grants for bear-proofing T. ornatus Ecuador $5,000.00 and related education. However, in U. americanus USA - Arizona $4,000.00 view of the difficulty of anticipating U. americanus USA - New Hampshire $4,500.00 all possible circumstances, the RCGC reserves the right to exercise its judg- U. arctos Iran $8,100.00 ment and some flexibility with respect U. arctos Nepal $7,180.00 to these guidelines. U. arctos Canada - Alberta $5,225.00 U. arctos USA - Idaho $10,000.00 • U. arctos Albania & FYROM $3,000.00 1. In general, the RCGC will not allo- cate IBA grant funds for purchasing U. arctos Russia $10,000.00 or subsidizing the purchase of bear- U. arctos Mongolia $7,000.00 resistant and bear-proof garbage U.