Shooting mortality in small populations of grizzly bears

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We studied small populations of grizzly bears in 2 of 6 ecosystems where populations were listed as threatened. Causes of mortality and rates of survival were determined for 11 grizzly bears that were marked in the Selkirk Mountains and for 8 in the Cabinet–Yaak Mountains between 1983 and 1987. Illegal shooting was the only cause of death for marked bears in the Selkirk Mountains and accounted for the loss of 3 of 4 males and 1 of 5 females. One of 5 males in the Cabinet–Yaak Mountains was shot in defense of human life. Annual rates of survival were 0.53 for males and 0.89 for females in the Selkirk Mountains, and 0.86 for males and 1.00 for females in the Cabinet–Yaak Mountains. All but 1 mortality occurred during hunting season. Low reproductive rates for females in these regions coupled with high mortality rates may make recovery of these populations
difficult.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology: Mammals