Grizzly Bear Habitat Selection in the Swan Mountains, Montana
Waller JS and Mace RD. 1997. Grizzly Bear Habitat Selection in the Swan Mountains, Montana. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 61(4):1032-1039
In the contiguous United States grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) are classified as a threatened species, thus resource managers have a continuing interest in how grizzly bears use available habitats. We examined the use of satellite derived cover types by 19 individual radiomarked grizzly bears over 8 years and developed a hierarchial preference classification. We found that avalanche chutes were used in higher proportions than available during all seasons, along with slab rock. Shrub fields and timber harvest units were selected relative to availability during the summer and fall. Forested areas were among the least selected cover types during all seasons. Clear patterns of elevational movement were identified and were similar among most bears.