 |
| Conservation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
© Copyright by Derek Reich, Zooprax Productions
|
The Swan Valley is home to a resident grizzly bear population. Northwest Connections believes that local stewardship is key to the long term survival of the bear in this ecosystem. To that end, we hire and involve local residents in bear monitoring projects, we help identify, protect and restore critical habitats, and we lead collaborative efforts to reduce grizzly bear-human conflicts. During 2009, Northwest Connections is involved in four different projects to further the stewardship of this magnificent species in our corner of the world.
The U.S. Geological Survey is leading a new project to track increases and decreases to the grizzly bear population across the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem which includes Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Rocky Mountain Front, Blackfoot Valley, Swan Valley, Mission Valley and Whitefish Range. This work is based on methods similar to those used in the 2004 project that resulted in an estimate of the grizzly bear population.
- click on map to enlarge view -
The 2009 Bear DNA project will collect hair samples left on natural rub objects by bears all across the ecosystem. Northwest Connections has responsibility for locating, setting, and collecting hair samples from bear rub trees throughout the Swan Valley, Mission Mountains and Swan Range. Currently we are training several seasonal field technicians and volunteers to hike and bike trails, roads and powerpole rights-of-way in search of bear rub objects.
Video Description: Grizzly bear vigorously rubbing on a tree regularly used by bears in Glacier National Park. May 24, 2007. Length: 50 seconds, File Size: 977 KB. Clip: RB05v.
Video courtesy of USGS Northern Divide Bear Project. Note, cameras were triggered by motion sensors. Wildlife should never be approached.
Problems viewing videos? Download the latest Flash Player.
Additional Resources
Here is the study plan for the 2009 projects.
Noninvasive Grizzly Bear Population Monitoring in Northwestern Montana. (PDF)
Here is Jeff Stetz' Master's Thesis explaining the science behind the project.
Using Noninvasive Genetic Sampling to Assess and Monitor Grizzly Bear Population Status in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem. (PDF)
Here is a synopsis of the results from the 2004 Northern Divide Grizzly Bear DNA Project. "Demography and Genetic Structure of a Recovering Grizzly Bear Population, The Journal of Wildlife Management, Kate Kendall et.all, 2009, v73n1 (PDF). In short, the project identified 563 bears and estimate there to be 765 bears.
Bear Resources
In collaboration with several other non-profit groups and government agencies, Northwest Connections is working to deliver information, education, and material resources to Swan Valley residents. This map shows the movements of 12 grizzly bears monitored in the Swan Valley.
Bear Resources is local team effort to make sure that bears who routinely use high quality valley bottom habitats come into as little conflict as possible with their human neighbors.
Current efforts include building electric fences around livestock pens (below), providing bear proof containers, hosting the Spring Wake-up Social and summer Bear Fair, and publishing the Swan Valley Bear Newsletter.
 |
- click on map to enlarge view (PDF) - |
Montana Legacy Project
Northwest Connections has been involved in efforts to conserve Plum Creek Timber lands in the Swan Valley since 1998. While grizzly bears have done well on lands managed primarily for timber, the do quite poorly among rural neighborhoods where garbage, livestock feed and bird feeders draw them into conflict with people. The Montana Legacy Project, makes sure that the human development in the Swan Valley is confined to the existing private land footprint, and does not spread up and down the foothills in ways that are incompatible with wildlife security. As part of this project, all of the remaining Plum Creek lands in the Swan Valley, about 67,000 acres will be off limits to development.
Wildlife in the West
Beginning spring, 2010, university students from around the country will be able to come and take a 9 credit field course through Northwest Connections called "Wildlife in the West." This unique program will get students involved in hands-on efforts to monitor and manage threatened and endangered species like the grizzly in a rural community.
*PDFs require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Visit www.adobe.com for download info.
|