Grizzly Bear Population has doubled !

[McLeod]

Those of us who hike throughout the mountains nad foothils knew this already but now it's offiical !

Results of a new survey show the grizzly bear population in western Alberta is making a strong recovery.

The number of bears in the Foothills east of Banff and Jasper National parks has doubled over the past decade, the study by fRI Research found.

■Alberta grizzly bears need habitat protection, conservation group says

Between 2004 and 2014, the grizzly bear population in Bear Management Area (BMA) 3 — which stretches from the Banff and Jasper national park boundaries east to Drayton Valley and Rocky Mountain House between Highways 16 and 11 — has increased from an estimated 36 bears to 74.

Gordon Stenhouse, who headed up the survey, says the findings are unusual.

Growth rate increased
"Normally a bear population in North America grows at a rate of three per cent a year. That would be considered a normal growth rate. And in this case, this population has grown at a rate of about seven per cent per year."

Grizzly bears have been listed as a threatened species in Alberta since 2010. While it's too soon to know why the bear population is increasing, Stenhouse believes there are several factors contributing to the dramatic upturn.

"We know that we have moved a number of bears in Alberta into this population over the last 10 years, so the increase could be partly as a result of those relocated bears coming into this area. And the other part could be that we've managed to keep human-caused mortality rates down so that the population is growing faster than one might expect."

■Relocation of Alberta grizzly bears harmful, environmental groups say
■Too many grizzly bears dying, conservation group says

Researchers also looked at the number of bears in the southern half of Jasper National Park. They counted 54 grizzlies there, for an estimated total of 113 grizzly bears in the entire park.

Researchers work with rotten cow blood

The latest survey of the grizzly population in the Foothills east of Jasper counted 74 bears in 2014. That's up from 36 when the last survey was completed, in 2004.




Stenhouse says counting grizzly bears is "not glamorous."

He and his team hike out into the forest and string "corrals of barbed wire" at knee height in a grid-like pattern. In the middle of the structure, they put mix of rotten cow blood, fish and canola oil.

"The bears smell that scent and come and crawl under the barbed wire or go over it and leave behind their hair."

Every 10 days, researchers collect the samples and do genetic DNA analysis on them to determine the species and gender of the animal.

Hunting moratorium
Researchers have divided the province into seven bear management areas.

"It will be important to study the effects of the hunting moratorium and the management practice of bear relocation," the study says.

"We know that the hunting moratorium has reduced the overall human-caused bear mortality. As well, between 2000 and 2014, enforcement officers relocated about 30 bears into BMA 3."




The study was completed by fRI Research, with funding from Weyerhaeuser, West Fraser, Alberta Environment and Parks, and Parks Canada.

[3blade]

Quadrupled. At least from their last "estimate" . And anything that has a parks Canada stink on it should be taken with a truckload of salt

Good news. Said it before, fall of 2016. Hopefully we get the hunt back and the govt stops wasting money chasing bears around the bush.

[SamSteele]

It seems much more likely that the original population estimate was off than that the population "exploded" like they are saying.

Unless they were playing "Beary White" in the foothills to increase reproduction rates...


SS

[Matt L.]

Originally Posted by SamSteele

It seems much more likely that the original population estimate was off than that the population "exploded" like they are saying.

Unless they were playing "Beary White" in the foothills to increase reproduction rates...


SS

Oh for sure it was, but they will never admit it.

[avb3]

I, for one, am glad to see that the Grizzly Bear Recovery plan is working, at least in one area.

The faster the population increases, the faster we get to get a season back. Of course, that won't happen with a NDP government, even if the ESCC removes the bears from the protected category.

On the other hand, the full recovery won't happen in the next 3 years, so we can dump the government that was elected in error.

[happy honker]

The cows blood is rotten from being mixed with BS, exposed to hot air...and add a pinch of arrogance.

[avb3]

Originally Posted by happy honker

The cows blood is rotten from being mixed with BS, exposed to hot air...and add a pinch of arrogance.

What's the matter, you didn't like the science when numbers were down, and you don't like it when the numbers show a rebound?

Just can't please some people.

[russ]

Originally Posted by McLeod

Those of us who hike throughout the mountains nad foothils knew this already but now it's offiical !

Results of a new survey show the grizzly bear population in western Alberta is making a strong recovery.

The number of bears in the Foothills east of Banff and Jasper National parks has doubled over the past decade, the study by fRI Research found.

■Alberta grizzly bears need habitat protection, conservation group says

Between 2004 and 2014, the grizzly bear population in Bear Management Area (BMA) 3 — which stretches from the Banff and Jasper national park boundaries east to Drayton Valley and Rocky Mountain House between Highways 16 and 11 — has increased from an estimated 36 bears to 74.

Gordon Stenhouse, who headed up the survey, says the findings are unusual.

Growth rate increased
"Normally a bear population in North America grows at a rate of three per cent a year. That would be considered a normal growth rate. And in this case, this population has grown at a rate of about seven per cent per year."

Grizzly bears have been listed as a threatened species in Alberta since 2010. While it's too soon to know why the bear population is increasing, Stenhouse believes there are several factors contributing to the dramatic upturn.

"We know that we have moved a number of bears in Alberta into this population over the last 10 years, so the increase could be partly as a result of those relocated bears coming into this area. And the other part could be that we've managed to keep human-caused mortality rates down so that the population is growing faster than one might expect."

■Relocation of Alberta grizzly bears harmful, environmental groups say
■Too many grizzly bears dying, conservation group says

Researchers also looked at the number of bears in the southern half of Jasper National Park. They counted 54 grizzlies there, for an estimated total of 113 grizzly bears in the entire park.

Researchers work with rotten cow blood

The latest survey of the grizzly population in the Foothills east of Jasper counted 74 bears in 2014. That's up from 36 when the last survey was completed, in 2004.




Stenhouse says counting grizzly bears is "not glamorous."

He and his team hike out into the forest and string "corrals of barbed wire" at knee height in a grid-like pattern. In the middle of the structure, they put mix of rotten cow blood, fish and canola oil.

"The bears smell that scent and come and crawl under the barbed wire or go over it and leave behind their hair."

Every 10 days, researchers collect the samples and do genetic DNA analysis on them to determine the species and gender of the animal.

Hunting moratorium
Researchers have divided the province into seven bear management areas.

"It will be important to study the effects of the hunting moratorium and the management practice of bear relocation," the study says.

"We know that the hunting moratorium has reduced the overall human-caused bear mortality. As well, between 2000 and 2014, enforcement officers relocated about 30 bears into BMA 3."




The study was completed by fRI Research, with funding from Weyerhaeuser, West Fraser, Alberta Environment and Parks, and Parks Canada.

quick translation, they finally hired people that can use more than their fingers and toes to count!

[58thecat]

More tags

[Taco]

Originally Posted by russ

quick translation, they finally hired people that can use more than their fingers and toes to count!

Nooo I'd say the provincial government was finally forced to get off it's collective ass and actually pay for a more accurate population count.

[avb3]

Originally Posted by russ

quick translation, they finally hired people that can use more than their fingers and toes to count!

Sorry to disappoint you, but it is the same team for the last decade or 15 years that I've been working on this.

[russ]

Thanks for the correction. So these numbers are just as suspect as the previous ones then.

[woods_walker]

If you want to see how the surveys and estimates were done, read this: https://friresearch.ca/sites/default...lationSize.pdf

At least the acknowledgement is there that the numbers are actually higher and there is actually some scientific backup for these numbers. Also remember that the data is for 1 grizzly management unit, this isn't all areas in the province. Yes the area you hunt is probably higher too.

[avb3]

Originally Posted by russ

Thanks for the correction. So these numbers are just as suspect as the previous ones then.

Well, then you should just go tell those that have their doctorates in biology how to set up the study programs and what statistical methods would be more valid.

I'm sure they would appreciate the input, seeing as they are doing it all wrong. I mean, what the heck do they know, they just have been recognized even in Sweden for their expertise, but us Albertan's are just gonna have to show them better, right?

[Albertacoyotecaller]

How are the surveys being conducted differently than 15 years ago? Specifics?

[Scott h]

Great turn around ! Seams like what ever they are doing is working.

[rem338win]

Originally Posted by avb3

What's the matter, you didn't like the science when numbers were down, and you don't like it when the numbers show a rebound?

Just can't please some people.

Originally Posted by avb3

Well, then you should just go tell those that have their doctorates in biology how to set up the study programs and what statistical methods would be more valid.

I'm sure they would appreciate the input, seeing as they are doing it all wrong. I mean, what the heck do they know, they just have been recognized even in Sweden for their expertise, but us Albertan's are just gonna have to show them better, right?

The program was bias from the start and if doctorates are a sign of intelligence you've lost me. I've worked with enough Phd's that couldn't find their ass anywhere but a lab or a white paper when trying to apply theory to the reality. There are others that redeem them.

This team of "intellects" took nearly a decade of convincing to use more reliable methods of collection that other agencies had proven more effective than their own, well, a decade ago.

Don't mind me if I hold back on my slow clap for the gov biologists in Alberta and the extreme bias a few of them have openly portrayed.

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by Scott h

Great turn around ! Seams like what ever they are doing is working.

The original count was very flawed and self serving, but the bears have definately increased drastically in numbers

[MountainTi]

Originally Posted by Albertacoyotecaller

How are the surveys being conducted differently than 15 years ago? Specifics?

With any luck they walked more than 100 yds. from the road to set up their "bait sites" this time. Maybe starting to use anecdotal evidence as well as other outside expertise as well. Dare to dream anyways

[velox]

Originally Posted by MountainTi

With any luck they walked more than 100 yds. from the road to set up their "bait sites" this time. Maybe starting to use anecdotal evidence as well as other outside expertise as well. Dare to dream anyways

If it's anecdotal, it's not reliable evidence. But whatever, I'm sure you're smarter than every scientist in the world.

[russ]

Originally Posted by velox

If it's anecdotal, it's not reliable evidence. But whatever, I'm sure you're smarter than every scientist in the world.

But it does provided leads.

[elkhunter11]

The actual link.

http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-...entral-alberta

[jimmyrig]

great post thanks for the info.

[Redwillow]

This is from a friend's game cam SW of Grovedale, looks to be a sow and 3 cubs