“Increasing winter use of steep, high-elevation terrain by backcountry recreationists has elevated concern about disturbance of denning grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). To help identify areas where such conflicts might occur, we developed a spatially explicit model to predict potential denning areas in the GYE. Using a scan area of 630m around each location, we assigned site attributes to 344 den locations of radio- tracked grizzly bears from 1975-99. Attributes identified as predictors for the analysis included elevation, slope, an index of solar radiation, and forest cover.” (Abstract)

“Our results can be used by land management agencies to identify potential conflict sites and minimize effects of regulated activities on denning grizzly bears. We illustrate how the Gallatin National Forest (GNF) used the model to examine the overlap between potential snowmobile use areas and potential denning habitat as part of a Biological Assessment submitted to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.” (Abstract)

“...57% of the defined denning habitat in unrestricted areas was potentially used by snowmobiles, whereas only 26% of all potential denning habitats on the GNF was potentially vulnerable to snowmobile use.” (24)

“Our results are consistent with field studies of denning grizzly bears in the GYE and other locations. Linnell et al.’s (2000) review of literature on den site selction by brown bears suggested that brown bears select den sites with stable snow conditions durring the denning period. For bears in the Rocky Mountain Region, these sites tend to be located at upper-middle elevations with a wide range of site aspects, often protected by wind.” (25)

“Although we agree with Judd et al. (1986), who concluded that the availability of denning sites in the GYE is not limiting, our model can be used by land managers to identify potential conflict areas and thus minimizing potential impacts of winter recreation and other activities on denning bears.” (26)

“Further research addressing other aspects of the impacts of snowmobiling disturbance to bears is needed. Bears, particularly females with cubs, may have more restricted habitat requirements and be more vulnerable to disturbance by snowmobilies immediately following den emergence than during the denning period (Mace and Waller 1997). Additional research is needed to identify spring habitats of post-emergent bears.” (27)