Demography of Grizzly Bears in Relation to Hunting and Mining Development in Northwestern Alaska
Ballard WB, Ayres LA, Reed DJ, Fancy SG, Roney KE. 1993. Demography of Grizzly Bears in Relation to Hunting and Mining Development in Northwestern Alaska. National Park Service Scientific Monograph Series. NPS/NRARO/NRSM-93/23. National Park Service. Washington, D.C.
(Adapted from authors' summary.) This final research report by the Alaska Dept. of Fish and Game in cooperation with the National Park Service reports on a multi-year project developed to 1) evaluate effects of human harvests of Noatak grizzly bears by comparing bear densities in the region with known reported harvests and 2) provide baseline data on population density, sex and age structure, movements, and reproductive parameters of the bears prior to large-scale development of the Red Dog Mine. The study was conducted from 1986 through 1990, and several additional objectives were added in 1988. These included estimating reproductive and mortality rates, determining daily and seasonal use patterns as well as short-term changes in behavior and habitat use resulting from mining development, and comparing the use of conventional telemetry to satellite telemetry for tracking habitat use and home-range sizes. Data was gathered by marking 146 grizzly bears with tattoos and ear tags; radio-collaring 67 and satellite-collaring 6 within or adjacent to a 6,700 km2 Noatak River Study Area. Sixty-seven radio-collared bears were relocated during the study. Average litter size at first observation was 2.17. Age of first reproduction was from five to nine years, with 50% of first litters occurring at five years. Habitat use varied by sex and age class, and usage and movements are described. Home range sizes of males and females averaged 1,437 km2 and 993 km2, respectively. One year of data from satellite transmitters provided estimates of movements and home-range sizes equivalent to that obtained over a three- to five-year period with conventional methods. Age structure and harvest rates suggest the bear population may be overexploited.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Ballard, Warren; Ayres, Lee; Reed, Daniel; Fancy, Steven; Roney, Kathryn
- Date of Issue
- 1993-07
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- CAKR , KOVA , NOAT , WRD
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, Breeding, Browsing, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, Clemson, Density, Grizzly Bears, Habitat Use, Harvest, Kelly River, Kobuk Valley National Park, Kugururok River, Mammals, mining development, Mortality, Noatak National Preserve, Noatak River, Population, Radio Telemetry, Radiotelemetry, Recapture methods, Red Dog Mine, Reproductive Success, Satellite Telemetry, Subsistence, Terrestrial Mammals, Ursus arctos, Wildlife Conservation, Wildlife Monitoring, WRBIB, Wulik River