Brown Bear Management and Research
Publications & Reports
Management
Alaska has over 98 percent of the United States population of brown bears, and more than 70 percent of the North American population, so it has a special responsibility to this magnificent animal. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game is responsible for managing bears in the state and for ensuring that management is based on the best scientific knowledge possible. Important aspects of this effort include maintaining healthy populations of bears throughout Alaska, conserving bear habitat, preventing overharvest, and conducting studies necessary to understand population requirements and how bears and people can co-exist. As Alaska continues to develop, it is critical that everyone recognize their role as stewards of this important resource and strive to safely share our great state with them.
Professional Publications
- Van Daele, L.J. and V.G. Barnes Jr. 2010. Management of Brown Bear Hunting on Kodiak Island, Alaska. (PDF 1,330 kB) Scandinavian Bear Conference. Rovdjurscentrum Orsa Grönklitt. Orsa, Sweden. January 2010.
Research
Interactive Maps
Working for Wildlife Video
Research Projects
- Grizzly and Black Bear Distribution and Abundance Relative to the 2004 Wildfires in Eastern Interior Alaska: Possible Intensive Management Consequences
- Grizzly bear use of the North Slope oilfields and surrounding region
- Population demographics of Kenai brown bears
Project Information
Population demographics of Kenai brown bears
Project 4.38, Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Grant Project. Duration: July 1, 2008–June 30, 2013. Principal Investigator: Sean Farley, Anchorage.
The population of Kenai Peninsula brown bears (Ursus arctos) is affected by sport harvest, poaching, defense of life or property actions (DLP), and negative interactions on salmon streams with fisherman. Management of the Kenai population has long been based on a population estimate derived from a habitat based model, rather than from a true census. The logistical and fiscal costs of a scientifically valid population census exceed the conservation value of such a population estimate. Nevertheless, managers still require information pertinent to population structure and health in order to make informed decisions. In lieu of conducting a population census, this project proposes to assess population trend through the collection of demographic information. The PI will develop a measure of population trajectory (lambda) to improve our understanding of general trends within the Kenai brown bear population. This will enable managers to make better informed decisions on harvest regimes.