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 Our brown bear studies began with a two year pilot project (summers of 2000
and 2001) on northern Chichagof Island. We developed methods for
mapping habitat characteristics (primarily vegetation and anadromous
qualities) and signs of use by bears. Bear use was surveyed and
monitored through mapping 'perennial' bear sign (trails, habitual mark
trees and bedding areas) and 'ephemeral' bear sign (scat, carcasses,
bed activity, and digging activity). The purpose of the mapping was to
provide ecological context for studying changes in bear behavior when
interacting with humans at important feeding areas, and to further our
general understanding of brown bear patterns of habitat use.
While
working on Baranof Island in 2002 and Admiralty Island in 2003 &
2004 we refined the bear sign mapping techniques and greatly advanced
our use of GPS/GIS technology for spatial accuracy and productivity. We have now mapped over 150 miles of bear trails while
working on the mainland at Berners Bay and Glacier Bay, and amongst the
Alexander Archipelago on Admiralty, Baranof, and Chichagof Islands.
Bear trails can tell us a lot about long-term patterns of habitat use.
Click on the inset map to take a closer look. Kind of a no-brainer... but an important contribution all the same. The
rapid survey techniques we have developed for brown bear habitat
assessments are very effective for answering site specific questions
and are readily adaptable to other focal species or habitats.
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