2001 Annual Report


Gibeau, M. and Herrero, S. 2002. Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project:
A Progress Report for 2001 (ESGBP): April 2002. Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.

Note: You can also download a PDF version of this report.
NEW FEATURE: Table of Contents links and Table links are activated in this file (HTML format).

A progress report for 2001

Prepared for the Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Steering Committee

This paper contains preliminary results of an on-going study and should not be cited without permission from the authors.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
STUDY AREA
METHODS
RESULTS
WEBSITE
POPULATION STUDIES
CAPTURE
TELEMETRY DATA SET
POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS
LITERATURE CITED

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Grizzly bear capture data in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 2001

Table 2. Status of all grizzly bears captured in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, as of November 2001

Table 3. Unduplicated grizzly bear females with cubs of the year in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2001

Table 4. Number of unduplicated females with cubs of the year (COY), and 6 year running averages in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2001

Table 5. Reproductive status of known female grizzly bears in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 2001

Table 6. Summary of grizzly bear mortalities in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2001

Table 7. Summary of grizzly bear translocations in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2001

Table 8. Summary of known grizzly bear mortalities and removals by jurisdiction and activity in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993-2001

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A very successful seventh field season would not have been possible without the dedication of field biologists S. Ciancone, C. Hague, M. Koppang and S. Stevens. Their efforts were augmented through the largely volunteer support of C. Campbell. Assistance in coordination of field staff was provided by A. Dibb, S. Donelon and T. Hurd. Trapping was conducted by C. Mamo, the Banff National Park Warden Service and Alberta Natural Resources Service. Veterinary care was provided by Dr. Todd Shury. Several Alberta Conservation Officers and Banff National Park Wardens provided invaluable safety backup, field assistance and logistical support through all stages of monitoring. Exemplary flying skills were provided by Alpine Helicopters of Canmore and fixed wing pilot M. Dupuis of Wildlife Observation Air Services.

The Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Steering Committee helped implement and guided this research. All steering committee participants contribute either money, time or both toward the objectives. Through the Steering Committee, governments, industry, business and conservation groups work together to support this project. The supporters include:

Alberta Environment
Natural Resources Service (NRS)
Lands & Forest Service
Alberta Cattle Commission
Alberta Conservation Association
Alberta Energy Utilities Board Committee (EUB)
Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association
Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks, and Wildlife Foundation
Alpine Helicopters
AMOCO Canada Petroleum Co. Ltd.
Anonymous Foundation donor
Bow Valley Naturalists
British Columbia Ministry of Environment
Wildlife Division
Calgary Area Outdoor Council (CAOC)
Calgary Zoo
Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP)
Canadian Pacific Charitable Foundation
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS)Calgary/Banff Chapter
Canmore Collegiate High School
Crown of the Continent Electronic Data Atlas
Eagle Terrace Developments
Elbow Valley Campgrounds
Friends of Banff
Friends of Kananaskis Country
Foothills Model Forest Grizzly Bear Project
Human Resources Development Canada
Husky Oil
Miistakis Institute
Mistaya Communications
Mountain Electronics
Mountain Equipment Co-op
National Science and Engineering Research Council
(NSERC)
Parks Canada
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
Rigel Energy
Shell Canada LimitedSpray Lakes Sawmills (1980) Ltd.
Springbank Middle School
Switching Gear
Totem Outdoor Outfitters
Three Sisters Resorts
University of Alberta
University of Calgary
Faculty of Environmental Design
Resources & the Environment Program
Warner Guiding and Outfitting Ltd.
Wilburforce Foundation
Wilderness Medical Society
World Wildlife Fund Canada (WWF)

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

During 2001 our research continued to focus on gathering basic reproductive and mortality data for analysis of demographic parameters. Another important research question we focused on is how do grizzly bear’s spatial and temporal use patterns differ in areas of high human presence compared to areas with low human presence in a landscape, some of which is dominated by tourism activities? Our situation is unique in that no other grizzly bear study area in North America has both a high volume transcontentinal highway and railway dissecting occupied grizzly bear habitat along with intensive tourism. Analysis has never been done on the effects of such levels of human presence on grizzly bears. One important question is the extent to which the Bow River Valley continues to function as a major movement corridor for bears providing connectivity between habitats.

The overall goal of ESGBP research is to understand how developments and human-induced mortality impact grizzly bears. Specific research objectives include:

1. Determine the basic demographic parameters for the grizzly bear population within the study area.
2. Detect spatial and temporal activity patterns of bears given various levels of human influences.
3. Determine how the distribution of humans affects a bear’s ability to use the landscape.
4. Determine if population connectivity is being impeded by major transportation corridors.
5. Determine what adjustments to human activities would give bears better access to resources.
6. Suggest management alternatives for integrating land uses compatible with bear habitat and survival needs for the study area.

STUDY AREA

The area of interest remains unchanged from year 1 with the approximately 11,400 km2 Bow River Watershed, from its headwaters to approximately where it meets the prairies, as the core study area. The greater study area defined by the movement of radio-collared bears is about 22,000 km2 or roughly twice the size of the core study area. At the largest scale our research encompasses the 42,000 km2 Central Rockies Ecosystem (Komex International 1995).

METHODS

Methods for both the capture and monitoring of bears remain unchanged from the detailed description found in the year 1 progress report (Gibeau and Herrero 1995). Approximately 25 grizzly bears per year have active radio‑collars. These bears are monitored from air and ground wherever they go and our budget permits. Aerial
monitoring gives infrequent, but relatively unbiased data regarding location. This facilitates understanding of home range, movements and habitat use. Ground‑based research allows intensive monitoring of grizzly bear activities related to development features such as towns, highways, campgrounds and trails. Mortality is monitored using both aerial and ground‑based telemetry. The radio‑telemetry monitoring area includes lands under several different jurisdictions. In the British Columbia portion of these lands, where some of our radio‑collared grizzly bears are found, there is the Columbia Mountains Bear Research Project which provides complementary data and will allow a broader ecosystem versus provincial boundary‑based understanding of grizzly bears in the Central Rockies Ecosystem.

RESULTS

WEBSITE

Most of the ESGBP publications plus considerable other related material can be found on this, the ESGBP website, and is available for downloading. Go to the Research Publications Section.

POPULATION STUDIES

CAPTURE

A concerted effort to deploy GPS radio collars in Canmore and the Lake Louise areas was the only planned trapping in 2001. Three additional grizzly bears were captured during management actions (Table 1).

Table 1. Grizzly bear capture data in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 2001.

ID

Sex

Age Estimate

Weight (kg)

Area

Comments

45

M

7a

102

Lake
Louise

recapture for GPS collar

51

M

12a

155
est.

Lake
Louise

recapture

56

F

7a

97

Lake
Louise

recapture for GPS collar

59

F

7a

84

Lake
Louise

recapture for GPS collar

68

M

6a

136

Canmore

recapture for GPS collar

70

F

4a

73

Canmore

recapture for GPS collar

71

F

3

70

Banff

management capture

72

F

8

90

Lake
Louise

GPS
collar

73

M

3

95

Storm Mtn.

management capture

74

M

subadult

86 est.

Spray Lakes

* certainty code a= +/- 0 years, b= +/- 1-2 years, c= +/- 2-3 years

TELEMETRY DATA SET

Aerial and ground monitoring from early April until the first week of November produced 2456 point locations for the 2001 field season. Of these 341 (14 %) were from the air and 2115 (86%) from ground monitoring. Aerial locations were biased toward early morning hours. Ground locations were biased towards where observers could travel easily.

Since the project began in May 1994 a total of 65 individuals have been handled (Table 2). Of those, 17 have died, and 23 are currently radio collared. The sex/age breakdown of the current radio collared sample is as follows:

14 adult females 5 adult males

2 subadult females 2 subadult male

Table 2. Status of all grizzly bears captured in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, as of November 2001.

ID

Sex

Age class 1

Age-first

capture 2

Monitoring Period

day/month/year

Fate

Cause 3

Recent sighting

10

M

AD

13a

07/05/94-12/06/96 and
19/04/97-10/06/98

lost

drop collar

11

M

SA

4b

20/05/94 – 03/96

11

AD

03/96 – 23/07/97

lost

drop collar

12

M

AD

13b

19/05/94 – 05/10/94

dead

self defense

13

M

SA

5a

20/05/94 – 03/95

13

AD

03/95 – 31/10/01

active

14

M

AD

9a

19/05/95 – 24/10/96

lost

no signal – b

15

M

AD

6a

20/05/94 – 31/10/01

active

16

M

SA

5a

16/08/93 – 03/94

16

AD

03/94 – 05/07/96

dead

removed to zoo

17

F

AD

10a

02/06/94 – 12/07/96

lost

drop collar

10/99

18

F

AD

6a

30/05/94 – 31/10/01

active

19

M

AD

6b

13/05/94 – 14/05/94

dead

accidental

20

M

AD

11a

14/05/94 – 07/07/94

lost

drop collar

21

M

SA

3a

21/05/94 – 26/07/95

dead

problem wildlife

22

M

AD

14a

21/05/94 – 28/05/94

dead

legal hunting

23

M

SA

3a

28/05/94 – 08/08/96

dead

problem wildlife

24

F

SA

5a

31/05/94 – 03/95

24

AD

03/95 – 31/10/01

active

25

M

AD

6a

31/05/94 – 21/09/94

lost

drop collar

07/95

26

F

AD

18a

08/06/94 – 21/09/99

dead

self defense

27

F

SA

2a

13/06/94 – 15/09/95

lost

no signal – b

06/99

28

F

AD

22a

08/06/94 – 09/08/96

dead

natural

29

M

SA

2a

never collared

30

F

AD

9a

28/09/94 – 31/10/01

active

31

F

AD

7c

25/06/94 – 27/04/96

lost

drop collar

32

F

AD

13b

04/06/94 – 18/10/97

lost

drop collar

ID

Sex

Age class 1

Age-first

capture 2

Monitoring Period

day/month/year

Fate

Cause 3

Recent sighting

33

F

AD

19a

14/06/94 – 22/09/99 and 03/08/00 –
31/10/01

active

34

M

AD

6a

17/05/95 – 05/11/96

lost

no signal – b

35

F

SA

4a

17/05/96 – 20/09/97

dead

treaty Indian

36

F

AD

8a

23/07/93 – 31/10/01

active

37

F

AD

10a

27/06/94 – 31/10/01

active

38

M

D

1a

never collared

39

F

SA

3a

10/05/95 – 18/08/96

lost

no signal – b

40

F

AD

15c

15/05/95 – 03/06/00

dead

natural

41

F

AD

12a

28/05/95 – 09/05/01

lost

no signal – b

42

M

AD

7a

30/05/95 – 06/10/00

lost

no signal – b

10/01

43

M

SA

5a

24/05/96 – 05/10/96

dead

illegal

44

M

SA

4a

13/06/95 – 23/08/96

dead

treaty Indian

45

M

D

4a

19/05/98 – 22/06/99

lost

drop collar

45

AD

03/06/00 – 31/10/01

active

46

F

AD

11a

15/06/95 – 31/10/01

active

47

F

AD

9a

02/06/96 – 31/10/01

active

48

F

D

2a

02/06/96 – 06/97

48

SA

06/97 – 10/09/97

lost

no signal – c

49

M

D

2a

02/06/96 – 06/97

49

SA

06/97 – 29/05/98

lost

no signal – b

08/01

50

M

SA

4a

17/06/96 – 20/06/96

lost

no signal – a

51

M

AD

8a

23/05/97 – 10/06/98 and 25/06/01 –
31/10/01

active

52

M

AD

7b

16/05/97 – 31/10/01

active

53

M

SA

3a

15/05/97 – 20/10/98

dead

illegal

54

M

AD

15a

03/06/97 – 10/10/99

lost

no signal -c

55

F

AD

6a

07/06/97 – 10/09/99

lost

drop collar

10/99

56

F

D

3a

26/05/97 – 06/98

56

SA

06/98 – 03/00

56

AD

03/00 – 30/09/01

dead

accidental

57

F

SA

5a

17/05/97 – 03/98

57

AD

03/98 – 31/10/01

active

58

M

AD

9a

08/06/97 – 23/09/97

dead

problem wildlife

59

F

D

3a

26/05/97 – 06/98

59

SA

06/98 – 03/00

59

AD

03/00 – 31/10/01

active

60

F

D

3a

26/05/97 – 06/98

60

SA

06/98 – 03/00

60

AD

03/00 – 17/08/00

dead

accidental

61

F

AD

12a

11/06/97 – 20/08/99

lost

no signal -c or a

62

F

AD

8a

12/06/97 – 29/06/01

lost

no signal – b

63

F

AD

7a

08/06/99 – 31/10/01

active

64

F

AD

10a

03/06/99 – 31/10/01

active

65

F

D

4a

15/05/98 – 06/99

65

SA

06/99 – 03/00

65

AD

03/00 – 06/08/00

lost

drop collar

ID

Sex

Age class 1

Age-first

capture 2

Monitoring Period

day/month/year

Fate

Cause 3

Recent sighting

66

F

SA

4a

13/06/99 – 03/01

66

AD

03/01- 31/10/01

active

67

M

SA

3a

13/06/99 – 10/10/99

dead

accidental

06/00

68

M

SA

5a

03/08/00 – 03/01

68

AD

03/01 – 02/08/01

lost

removed – b

69

F

SA

3a

14/09/00 – 06/08/01

lost

removed – b

70

F

SA

3a

14/09/00 – 31/10/01

active

71

F

SA

3a

19/07/01 – 31/10/01

active

72

F

AD

8a

18/06/01 – 31/10/01

active

73

M

SA

3a

09/09/01 – 31/10/01

active

74

M

SA

n/a

07/09/01 – 31/10/01

active

1 D = dependent, SA = subadult, AD = adult (>5 years old)

2 certainty code from tooth analysis: a = +/- 0 years, b = +/- 1-2 years, c = +/- 2-3 years

3 (a) High probability that disappearance was related to death, (b) High probability that disappearance was unrelated to death, (c) No indication of which of the above 2 choices is more likely

POPULATION DEMOGRAPHICS

Observations from the research team as well as records from Banff National Park and Alberta Natural Resources Service established a minimum unduplicated count of females with cubs for the year (Table 3). Over time, a minimum count of sows with cubs (Table 4) can be established and used as a trend indicator (Knight et al. 1995).

Table 3. Unduplicated grizzly bear females with cubs of the year in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2001.

Family

Identification

Most Cubs Observed

Location

# of

Sightings

A –
1993

1

Bryant
Creek

2

B –
1993

2

Fatigue
Creek

1

C –
1993

2

Moraine
Lake

1

D –
1993

2

Cascade
River

1

E –
1993

2

Elbow
R. / Nahahi Ridge

3

F –
1993

2

Kananaskis Lakes

4

A –
1994

2

Lower
Cascade River

1

B –
1994

1

Moose Mtn. / Elbow R.

2

C –
1994

2

Mt.
Indefatigable

4

D –
1994

1

Bryant
Cr. / Mt. Nestor

2

Family

Identification

Most Cubs Observed

Location

# of

Sightings

Bear
#28 1994

1

Upper
Cascade River

2

Bear
#30 1994

3

Baker
Lake / Pipestone R.

5

Bear
#36 1994

1

Upper
Bow River

2

Bear
#46 1994

2

Pipestone River

1

Bear
#47 1994

2

Kananaskis Lakes

2

A –
1995

2

West
Bragg Cr / Powderface

3

B –
1995

2

Skogan Pass / Wasootch

3

C –
1995

2

Upper
Spray / Albert R.

3

Bear
#17 1995

1

Cascade
River

13

Bear
#18 1995

3

Bryant
Cr. / Assiniboine

10

Bear
#26 1995

2

Nakiska / Evans Thomas

6

Bear
#31 1995

2

Highwood River

3

Bear
#32 1995

3

Forty
Mile Cr. / Elk Lake

12

Bear
#33 1995

3

Cascade
River / Stoney Cr.

14

A –
1996

1

Cascade
R. / Grassy Ridge

1

B –
1996

3

Mid
Spray River

1

Bear
#24 1996

2

Highwood Pass

25

Bear
#36 1996

2

Upper
Bow River

8

Bear
#37 1996

2

Elbow /
Sheep Rivers

3

A –
1997

2

Wind
Valley

2

B –
1997

3

Elbow
Lakes

2

A –
1998

1

West
Bragg Creek

2

B –
1998

2

Palliser Range

2

C –
1998

1

Pipestone River

1

Bear #
33 1998

2

Cascade
River

4

Bear #
41 1998

1

Simpson
River

4

Bear #
47 1998

2

Kananaskis Lakes

3

Bear #
55 1998

1

Cascade
River

9

Bear #
57 1998

2

Plateau Mtn

6

Bear #
18 1999

1

Bryant
Creek

4

Bear #
26 1999

2

Nakiska

1

Bear #
36 1999

2

Upper
Bow River

5

Bear #
56 2000

1

Lake
Louise

10

Bear #
37 2000

2

Elbow
River

3

A –
2000

2

Elpoca Cr.

2

Bear #
30 2001

3

Lake
Louise

4

Bear #
47 2001

2

Kananaskis Lakes

5

Bear #
56 2001

2

Lake
Louise

85

Bear #
57 2001

2

Plateau Mtn

4

Bear #
62 2001

2

Cascade
River

2

Family

Identification

Most Cubs Observed

Location

# of

Sightings

Bear #
66 2001

2

Bow
River

3

A –
2001

2

Lake
Louise

2

B – 2001

3

Cascade River

2

Table 4. Number of unduplicated females with cubs of the year (COY), and 6 year running averages in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2001.

Year

Females

w/COY

Total

# COY

Mean
litter

size

6 year running averages

F w/COY

# cubs

Litter size

1993

6

11

1.8

1994

9

15

1.6

1995

9

20

2.2

1996

5

10

2.0

1997

2

5

2.5

1998

8

12

1.5

6.5

12.2

1.9

1999

3

5

1.6

6.0

11.2

1.9

2000

3

5

1.6

5.0

9.5

1.9

2001

8

18

2.2

4.8

9.2

1.9

Reproductive success of radio collared females was determined through year to year visual observations between 1994 and 2001 (Table 5). Year to year cub survivorship can be tracked by referring to the table and comparing the number of cubs observed in a given year to the previous years observations. Reproductive data from collared females is being be used to construct an estimate of whether the sample population is increasing or decreasing.

Table 5. Reproductive status of known female grizzly bears in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 2001.

Female

Location

Age at first

Cubs In

#

capture

94

95

96

97

98

99

2000

2001

17

Cascade River

10

0

1yoy

1

off air

2yoy

2

18

Bryant Creek

6

0

3yoy

2

2

2*

1yoy

1

1

24

Highwood Pass

5

0

0

2yoy

2

2*

0

0

0

26

Nakisa

18

2*

2yoy

1

0

0

2yoy/died

0

27

Cascade River

2

0

0/off air

2yoy

2

28

Cascade River

22

1yoy

0

0/died

30

Lake Louise

9

3yoy

3

3

3

3*

0

0

3yoy

31

Highwood River

7

0

2yoy

off air

32

Cascade River

13

1*

3yoy

3

3*

off air

33

Cascade River

19

2*

3yoy

2

2*

2yoy

2

2

2*

35

Evan Thomas

4

0

0

0/died

36

Upper Bow River

8

1yoy

0

2yoy

1

0

2yoy

2

2*

37

Sheep River

10

1*

0

2yoy

1

0

0

2yoy

2

39

Kananaskis River

3

0

0/off air

40

Spray River

15

0

0

0

0

0

0/died

41

Brewster Creek

12

0

0

0

1yoy

1

1

1

46

Pipestone Creek

10

2yoy

2

2

2

2

2*

0

0

47

Kananaskis Lakes

7

2yoy

2

2

2*

2yoy

2

2

2yoy

48

Kananaskis Lakes

2

0

0/off air

55

Cascade River

6

0

1yoy

1/off air

1

56

Lake Louise

3

0

0

0

1yoy>0

2yoy

57

Cateract Creek

5

0

2yoy

2

2

2yoy

59

Lake Louise

3

0

0

0

0

0

60

Lake Louise

3

0

0

0

0/died

61

Spray River

12

0

0

0/died ?

62

Cascade River

8

0

0

0

0

2yoy

63

Yoho R.

7

0

0

0

64

Healy Creek

10

0

0

0

65

Pipestone River

4

0

0

0/off air

66

Cascade River

4

0

0

2yoy

69

WindValley

3

0

0

70

WindValley

3

0

0

71

BowValley

3

0

72

Lake Louise

8

0

* denotes cubs dispersed

There were 4 known mortalities within the study area in 2001 (Table 6). An unmarked subadult female was shot after a livestock depredation in May. Subadult male #67 was hit by a vehicle on the Trans Canada Highway in May. Adult female #56 was hit by a train near Lake Louise in September. An unmarked subadult female was shot in self defense over a hunter kill in Kananaskis Country in September.

Table 6. Summary of grizzly bear mortalities in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2001.

Bear

Identification

Date

Location

Sex

Age

Kill
Type

AFWS #21055a

08/19/93

West
Spray-408b

M

3

PWc

Research #19

05/13/94

Kananaskis-648

M

6

AC

Research #22

05/28/94

Albert
R.-B.C.

M

14

LH

AFWS #25161

09/29/94

Fortress Mt-408

M

subadult

IL

Research #12

10/04/94

Simpson
R.-B.C.

M

13

SD

Research #21

07/26/95

Elkford B.C.

M

4

PW

AFWS #25722

08/20/95

Sarcee Reserve

M

unkn

TI

investigate

fall/95

3 Point
Cr.-406

?

unkn

?

BNP L952104

09/25/95

Lake
Louise

F&yly

adult

PW

C – 1995

10/12/95

Albert
River

F

adult

PW

AFWS #34990

06/04/96

Morley

M

adult

TI

Research #44

08/23/96

Stoney Reserve

M

5

TI

Research #28

08/24/96

Cascade
River

F

24

NA

Research #23

08/08/96

James
River

M

5

PW

Research #43

10/10/96

Grease
Creek

M

5

IL

BNP97-1567

fall 1996

Spray
Lake

?

subadult

?

Research #35

09/20/97

Evan
Thomas Cr.

F

5

TI

Research #58

09/23/97

James
R.

M

9

PW

BNP 1998

06/05/98

Bryant
Cr.

?

subadult

NA

AFWS #36480

07/18/98

Kananaskis R.

F

adult

AC

Research #53

10/20/98

Trap
Cr.

M

4

IL

AFWS #

09/??/98

Pekisko Cr.

M

adult

PW

AFWS # 17883

09/??/99

Kananaskis R.

M

subadult

AC

Research # 26

09/21/99

Nakiska

F

23

SD

AFWS # 42771

10/28/99

Highwood R.

F

subadult

TI

Research # 40

06/03/00

Spray
R.

F

20

NA

Research # 60

08/17/00

Lake
Louise

F

6

AC

AFWS # 47901

09/25/00

Elbow
R.

M

subadult

SD

AFWS #49086

05/09/01

Pekisko Cr.

F

PW

Research #67

05/17/01

Lake
Louise

M

5

AC

Research #56

09/30/01

Lake
Louise

F

7

AC

AFWS #47916

10/24/01

Elbow R.

F

Subadult

SD

a Registration or file number b Wildlife Management Unit

c PW=problem wildlife, AC=accidental, LH=legal hunter, SD=self defense, NA=natural, TI=treaty Indian, IL=Illegal

There were 2 grizzly bear translocations out of the study area in 2001. Research bears # 68 and 69 were removed after frequent sightings and encounters along the outskirts of Canmore. Since 1993, there have been 9 translocations from the Bow River Watershed (Table 7).

Table 7. Summary of grizzly bear translocations in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993 – 2001.

Bear

Identification

Date

Translocation

Sex

Age

From
To

AFWS #407801a

09/04/93

Canmore-410b Owl Crk-339

M

Subadult

Research #23

10/21/94

Sundre-318 Mitsue-350

M

3

B.C. GF75

09/26/95

Lake Louise Kinbasket L

F

9 &
1yly

Research #50

06/17/96

Canmore-410 Highwood-404

M

4

Research #16

07/05/96

Banff
Calgary Zoo

M

8

AFWS

07/29/97

PLPP-648 White
Goat-738

M

Subadult

AFWS

09/15/00

Nakiska-408 Calgary
Zoo

F

18

Research #68

08/02/01

Canmore-410 Lost
Cr.

M

6

Research #69

08/06/01

Canmore-410
Lost Cr.

F

4

aRegistration or file number

bWildlife Management Unit

The 40 grizzly bear deaths and removals in the Bow River Watershed between 1994 – 2001 are from a number of causes (Table 8). No one factor stands out. The diversity of mortality and removal causes means that it will continue to be challenging to maintain acceptable mortality / removal rates for subadult and adult female bears.

Table 8. Summary of known grizzly bear mortalities and removals by jurisdiction and activity in the Bow River Watershed, Alberta, 1993-2001.

Problem Wildlife

Illegal

Treaty Indian

Accident

Self D.

Natural

Legal H.

Unknown

Total

Agriculture

Public Safety

Garbage Mgmt.

Hunting

Garbage Mgmt.

(while hunting)

(suspect illegal)

Alberta

4

4

3

3

3

2

3

3

1

26

B.C.

1

1

1

1

4

N.P.

3

3

3

1

10

Total

4

8

4

3

3

2

6

4

3

1

2

40

LITERATURE CITED

Gibeau, M. and S. Herrero. 1995. Eastern Slopes Grizzly Bear Project: 1994 Progress Report. University of Calgary, AB. 26 pp.

Knight, R.R., B.M. Blanchard, and L.L. Eberhardt. 1995. Appraising status of the Yellowstone grizzly bear population by counting females with cubs-of-the-year. Wildl. Soc. Bull. 23:245-248.

Komex Intl. 1995. Atlas of the Central Rockies Ecosystem. Komex Intl., Calgary, A.B.

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