Executive Summary available at http://www.canadianrockies.net/Grizzly/mort_exsm.htm

Abstract:

Grizzly bear mortality data from 1971-1996 were analyzed for the Central Rockies Ecosystem (CRE) portions of Alberta and the East Kootenays, B.C., and for Banff, Yoho and Kootenay National Parks. Spatial and temporal analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between access, changing grizzly bear management strategies and grizzly bear mortality. It was assumed that the goal of management agencies was to maintain the present population status and distribution of grizzlies, and that recreational hunting of grizzly bears is an acceptable practice. Mortality rates, summaries by cause of death, sex, age, and cohort are presented. Human-related causes were the primary sources of recorded grizzly bear mortality in the study area (627 of 639). Except for the East Kootenays region, which accounted for 50% of all recorded mortality in the CRE, the annual number of grizzly bear deaths declined in the latter years of the analysis period. Estimated total human-caused and harvest mortality rates since the early 1980s, have been within acceptable parameters for this aspect of population sustainability in most jurisdictions. However, these were contingent on the population estimates used to generate mortality rates. Eighty-five percent of 462 mortalities with accurate locations occurred within 500m wide zones of influence (ZOI) around roads and front country developments and 200m wide zones around trails and back country developments. Area-concentrated kill locations were observed throughout the CRE. Improved garbage management, public education regarding bears, and the implementation of limited entry grizzly bear hunting appears to have contributed the most to managing mortality in the CRE. However, more needs to be done to prevent potential population declines. Managing access and development, and educating hunters about bear behavior are the critical issues with respect to managing grizzly bear mortality in the CRE. Recommendations for managing grizzly bear mortality are presented.

Keywords: grizzly bear, Ursus arctos, mortality, translocation, Central Rockies Ecosystem, spatial analysis, temporal analysis, access, roads, trails, zone of influence