Spatio-temporal distribution of coastal brown bears and visitors in Katmai National Park, Alaska
Griffin KR. 2021. Spatio-temporal distribution of coastal brown bears and visitors in Katmai National Park, Alaska. Natural Resource Report. NPS/KATM/NRR—2021/2216. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado. https://doi.org/10.36967/nrr-2283864
Visitor activity along coastal sites of Katmai National Park has risen over the past two decades primarily due to increases in brown bear (Ursus arctos) viewing. A series of time-lapse photography studies have been implemented at three coastal bear viewing sites to determine how varying levels of visitor activity may affect bear activity and spatial distribution. We set up cameras at each site and photos were taken at set intervals for the duration of the bear-viewing season across multiple years. All bears and visitors present within the photos were digitized and relative positions were used to determine density patterns and relationships. We analyzed bear activity patterns in relationship to temporal variables and bear spatial distribution in the presence and absence of visitors. Bear activity varied between sites and with year, day of year, time, and tide. Visitor presence alone did not seem to affect bear activity and spatial distribution. However, multiple visitor groups and high visitor numbers appeared to displace bears and change their activity patterns. Management strategies at Katmai include continued monitoring of visitor numbers and density at bear viewing sites to determine levels of visitation. High-visitation sites should be management priorities and may benefit from increased ranger presence or designated viewing areas to minimize the impact on bears.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Griffin, Kelsey
- Date of Issue
- 2021-01
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- DOI
- 10.36967/nrr-2283864
- Units
- KATM , NRSS
- Keywords
- Coastal brown bears, Katmai National Park and Preserve, salt marsh, timelapse photography, visitation
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Intertidal Communities , Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Mammals , Ecological Framework: Human Use | Visitor and Recreation Use | Visitor Use