Despite Weak 2004 Whitebark Pine Nut Crop, Number Of Female Grizzlies With Cubs Continues To Rise

IDAHO FALLS - As fall colors begin to take hold across the Yellowstone Ecosystem, wildlife biologists charged with monitoring the great bear's recovery are using data collected over the summer field season to paint a picture of how the bear and its habitat is doing. Each bit of data collected represents a different color on the biologists palette and when combined on the canvas of the ecosystem the image they create is one that holds much promise, but with some areas of concern that bear watching. The Yellowstone Ecosystem Grizzly Bear Management Subcommittee, which represents the state and federal agencies responsible for recovery of grizzly bears in the Yellowstone ecosystem released information today concerning whitebark pine nut production, the seeds of the whitebark pine are high in fat content, and are an important fall food as bears prepare for winter hibernation. Bears obtain cones by raiding caches made by red squirrels called "middens". According to Mark Haroldson, Wildlife Biologist for the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team at the USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science, "Whitebark pine cone production was poor this fall, averaging 7 cones per tree on the 19 transects that the Study Team and cooperators monitor annually throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem." Some regional variation did occur, with cone production generally better in the southern portions of the Ecosystem. The poor cone production generally means that grizzly bears will be ranging widely in search of food, and might be more likely to encounter humans or human related foods. According to Haroldson, "Hunters, other outdoor recreationists, and people who live near wild lands should be extra vigilante in securing foods, garbage, bird seeds, and grain. Bear managers in the ecosystem are all ready responding to an increasing number of incidents." Scientists in the state and federal agencies monitoring grizzly bears in the Yellowstone area report that preliminary numbers indicate at least 48 females with cubs of the year in the ecosystem this year. Haroldson stated, "This years count is higher than the 38 females we identified last year, and is probably a reflection of the both the good whitebark pine crop of 2003, and an increase in the number of females that were available for breeding in 2003." While the information on bear numbers looks promising, Haroldson reports that as of September 8, 2004, 11 human-caused grizzly bear mortalities have been documented in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. These losses resulted from a variety of causes, including 6 management removals, 2 mistaken identity by black bear hunters, 2 defense of life killings, and 1 vehicle collision. Four of these bears were females. Two of these instances occurred more than 10 miles outside of the US Fish & Wildlife Service Grizzly Bear Recovery Zone and will not be counted against the annual mortality thresholds established in the Recovery Plan. To prevent more deaths Haroldson suggests, "Hunters should not get so focused on pursuit of game that they miss noting obvious signs of recent bear activity. Successful hunters should pack their big game carcass out as soon as possible after the kill. If hunters must leave all or some of the meat, they should separate the meat from the gut pile and hang it in a tree, at least 10 feet high and 4 feet from the trunk. " Precautionary actions such as these can help reduce human-bear conflicts that result in bear mortality, and sometimes human injury. As always, hunters and other outdoor recreationists should comply with food storage regulations in camps, and leave a clean camps when they vacate a site. "Be polite, and don't create a problem for the next user by leaving unburned garbage in the fire ring, or extra horse cake on the ground. Bears will find these leavings and use them, and may become conditioned to the site." says Haroldson. The Yellowstone Ecosystem Subcommittee includes members from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks; the Shoshone, Bridger-Teton, Caribou-Targhee, Gallatin, Beaverhead-Deerlodge, and Custer National Forests; the wildlife departments of Wyoming, Montana and, Idaho; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and the U.S. Geological Survey.