Grizzly Bear Conservation Issues
Wildlife Biology 395 - 2 credits, $550
Bear Ground:
Grizzly Bear Conservation Issues
Wildlife Biology 395 - 2 credits, $550
This class, along with Alpine Field Studies, is soon to be replaced with "Carnivores and Communities," an interdisciplinary summer field program involving students in the study of threatened and endangered species such as lynx and grizzly bear, and the challenges for their recovery in rural landscapes.
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Bear Ground not offered in 2007 |
Course Description
Come study bears in June when they are most active in the Swan Valley!
During this course, you will assist NwC with monitoring the presence and distribution of grizzly bears inside and outside of established linkage zones in the Swan Valley.
As a participant in Bear Ground, you will study the habitat requirements of grizzly bears in the field. You will learn to identify species of flora utilized by bears as well as track and sign of fauna on which the bears depend seasonally. You will learn how to identify grizzly bear tracks, bear rub trees and sign of bear foraging. You will practice erecting and monitoring remote camera stations and learn how to collect bear hair for DNA analysis from field snag stations. Finally, you will learn techniques for radio telemetry studies of bears and explore the ethical and biological ramifications of low impact vs. conventional bear monitoring techniques.
We begin each day with a mini-lecture on a topic relevant to grizzly bear conservation then spend all day in the field with instructors and guest speakers. Speakers include bear biologists, forest managers, and local residents. During field sessions, you will learn to assist NwC staff in conducting track and sign surveys for grizzly bears. Data collected assists public and private land owners in monitoring the success of the Swan Valley Grizzly Bear Conservation Agreement.
The culminating activity for your student group is to develop your own management plan for grizzly bears in the Swan Valley for 50 years with a given budget. This plan must include, but is not limited to, managing grizzly-human conflicts, doing public outreach and education, ensuring habitat conservation (and restoration where needed), mitigating for infringements on private lands, and monitoring genetic viability of the Swan Valley/Mission Mountains grizzly subpopulation. The intent of this assignment is to raise awareness of the financial and political realities of threatened and endangered species management.
Readings
The Bear Ground reader includes readings from Rick Mace, Chris Servheen, Kristi Pelletier, Dave Mattson, Chuck Jonkel, Ernest Thompson Seton, Dave Mattson, Jim Halfpenny, Kate Kendall, Frank and John Craighead, The Mountaineers, David Rockwell, Hank Fischer, David Lee, Mike Madel, Tim Their and a number of agency publications.
Course Itinerary
Day 1 -- Introduction to Grizzly Bear Conservation
Introductions -- students/staff
Field Session : Habitats of the Swan Valley -- Tree/shrub/plant I.D.
Evening Session: "Grizzly Bears: Past, Present, Future" -- Charles Jonkel
Day 2 -- Habitats Diversity and Connectivity
Lecture: "Biodiversity in the Swan Valley"
Field Session: Riparian plant inventory
Evening Session: "Ecosystem Management and Grizzly Bears" Vernon La Fontaine, wildlife biologist for Swan Lake Ranger District
Day 3 -- Bear Biology and Autoecology
Lecture: "Bear I.D.: Observation, Track and Sign"
Field Session: Track surveys
Evening Session: "Grizzly Bear ecology in N. Rockies--Rick Mace, FWP biologist
Day 4 -- Monitoring Grizzly Bears
Lecture: "Techniques used to monitor grizzlies"
Field Session: Remote Camera Sets/ Map and compass work
Evening Speaker: Community perspectives on Grizzly Bears -- Mike Lake, Swan Citizens Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Road Management, Bud Moore participant in subcommitte to write Swan Citizens Private Lands Agreement.
Day 5 -- Threatened and Endangered Species Management
Lecture: "Letter and Intent of the Endangered Species Act"
Field Session: Road monitoring
Evening Session: "Recovering Grizzly Bears: Delisting and Reintroduction Issues" Chris Servheen, USFWS
Day 6 -- Swan Valley Conservation Agreement
Lecture: "Grizzly Bear Linkage Zones and the SVCA"
Field Session: Hair Snagging Stations
Evening Session: "Corporate Responsibility for Endangered Species" Brian Gilbert, Plum Creek Timber Co.
Day 7 -- Grizzly Bear Management in the 21st Century
Students work on final project
Students present final project
Course evaluation/Conclusion