Bears in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: Sightings, human interactions, and research 2010–2017

Lewis, Tania; Stanek, Ashley; Young, Kiana

Bears in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve (GBNPP) are key components in the ecosystem and highly sought for viewing opportunities by visitors. GBNPP is home to both brown (Ursus arctos) and black bear (Ursus americanus) species, including the rare blue-grey color phase of black bear (also known as glacier bears), which are endemic to the park and surrounding region. GBNPP offers unique opportunities to study bears in a recently deglaciated landscape where animals are preserved and protected. This report describes bear sightings, human-bear interactions, and bear research in GBNPP from 2010 through 2017. It is intended to highlight events that have characterized what we know about bears in GBNPP, including sightings, annual variability in bear numbers based upon sightings, encounters, incidents, frontcountry interactions, and field research projects. Key findings include: ● From 2010–2017, brown bears were observed more frequently than black bears from the daily tour vessel transiting Glacier Bay. Brown bears were sighted primarily in recently deglaciated areas in the northern parts of Glacier Bay, whereas black bears were sighted primarily in the southern parts of the bay. Although it is difficult to draw broad conclusions due to inter-annual variability, bear sightings were consistently high at Gloomy Knob and the Russell Island outwash plain over the eight-year span. The number and proportion of bear cubs of both species varied greatly between years. Most bears observed were foraging or traveling. ● From 2011–2017 the annual number of human-bear incidents (defined as an interaction involving conflict) fluctuated from a low of 2/yr in 2015 and 2016 to a high of 15/yr in 2017. Incidents were most frequent in July and the most common areas where incidents occurred were Bartlett Cove and the West Arm of Glacier Bay. In the backcountry, brown bears were more often associated with incidents than black bears, yet in the frontcountry (Bartlett Cove) only black bears were involved. Severe incidents, such as a bear making contact and/or injuring a person have not occurred in GBNPP since 1980; however, since 2011, there have been 20 cases of property damage by bears and five instances in which bears are known to have obtained human food. The most common incidents involved bears approaching people or entering camp, followed by bears damaging property, although the two often co-occurred. ● Bear-related advisories to the public were issued every year from 2011–2017 ranging from a low of 2/yr in 2016 to a high of 13/yr in 2017. ● Area closures to human use were issued in four out of seven years in response to bear activity and/or incidents. ● Bear research from 2010–2017 included the following studies: an experiment on vessel disturbance of brown bears, distribution of bear species across GBNPP, genetic population structure of brown bears, population and activity monitoring of bears at two areas of management concern (Gustavus and South Sandy/Spokane Coves), two humpback whale carcass scavenging studies, and ongoing genetic work on black bears in northern Southeast Alaska (including glacier bears).

Bears in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve: Sightings, human interactions, and research 2010–2017

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