Urban Bear Movement Patterns

SGRC Lead Researcher: Lui Marinelli

Collaborating Agency: Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection

Since the spring of 2003, four black bears (Ursus americanus) have been radiocollared to track their movements around an urban environment. All of the bears were relatively young but independent. Two are females, who at the time of instrumentation had not produced young, and the other two males. Since the instrumentation, movements have been documented primarily from September to November by second year Recreation, Fish and Wildlife students from Selkirk College, Castlegar. One of the bears has since moved to a different community (Krestova) and another has dropped its collar, but has been seen in the area. One of the males has denned twice in close proximity of Castlegar and the last has moved out of the area to den but has returned each spring.

The project has depended on the Conservation Officer Service to provide traps, anesthetics, and manpower and on the SGRC for VHF radio collars.