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We capture and collar 10 grizzly bears in an area and obtain GPS locations over two years. We then combine collar data with remote sensing landcover maps to create Resource Selection Function (RSF) maps for that area that shows where grizzly bears would most likely be at a particular season on the landscape. Models are also tested and validated with collar data.

“ Tradit ional Approach”

Solutions

Foothills Research Institute is a leader in developing innovative science and knowledge for integrated resource management on the forest landscape through diverse and actively engaged partnerships.

The Foothills Research Institute landbase is located in west-central Alberta, and is based in the resource community of Hinton, some three hours west of Edmonton. It covers roughly 2.75 million hectare (27,500 square kilometres), and embodies Jasper National Park of Canada, the Willmore Wilderness Park, and the Forest Management Area of Hinton Wood Products, a Division of West Fraser Mills Ltd. It also includes some provincial “crown forest management units” and the Hinton Training Centre’s Cache Percotte Training Forest. Within its boundaries are three forest areas—boreal, montane, and sub-alpine—and many forest uses including timber, petroleum, and coal extraction, tourism, and recreation.

After two seasons trying to capture grizzly bears in the Chinchauga, only 3 grizzly bears were captured (25 black bears were captured and released). This resulted in limited GPS data to build models. A different approach was needed.

The Problem

Solution 1. Applied existing models created from west central Alberta to the Chinchauga area to create an untested/unvalidated RSF map for the Chinchauga area.

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University of Alberta

Spatial-temporal grizzly bear habitat model-food probability

Six teen scat samples were taken from this area . 2 were grizzly bear and 14 were black bear, illustrating that this is not prime grizzly bear habitat.

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This data will be used to create food models for the Chinchauga area.

2008 Field ActivitiesCompleted a literature search to determine the potential bear foods in the area.Collected scats to verify the food being eaten by bears.Conducted habitat assessments in different stand/habitat types and quantified abundance of grizzly bear foods.

Solution 2. Use food models to predict where and when grizzly bear foods grow and from this we can show where grizzly bears would most likely be at a particular season.

Draf t RSF model created f o r t h e C h i n c h a u g a area for the f a l l s e a s o n using model p a r a m e t e r s developed for west- centra l Alberta.

Example of a food model created for a pilot area in Jasper National Park showing where bears are most likely to be in late October.

Example of a food model created for a pilot area in Jasper National Park showing where bears are most likely to be in late August.

G e o g r a p h i c I n f o r m a t i o n Systems map of land cover types for the C h i n c h a u g a area.

Scat data from grizzly bears used in the f o o d m o d e l t o p r e d i c t when different f o o d i t e m s are eaten by grizzly bears.

Grizzly Bear Program - NW Alberta

Develop maps that will identify important habitats for grizzly bears.

Objective for NW Alber ta

Prepare new habitat maps using grizzly bear diet information and compare these to GPS point based maps of habitat use.