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November 5, 2008
Red Lion Colonial Inn
NCDE MTG NOTES:
Subcommittee members present:
Mark Wilson
Kate Kendal USGS gave presentation on the USGS Study which started in 2002. regarding the demography and genetic structure of a recovering grizzly bear population.
2003 - 60 people in the field getting ready to do sampling.
2004 - Sampling started to determine population size, distribution, and genetic
Structure.
-Barbed wire baited w/scent lure captured 34000 hair samples over a 14 week period.
- 563 unique grizzly bear sampled during Jun-Sep 2004
Population Modeling Workshop – Advised on modeling approaches and other technical issues resulted in 831 population estimate. Huggins-Pledger closed mark-recapture models. AIC and model averaging. Precise estimate for sub adults/adults
1994-2007 Occupied range 8.3 million acres. Recovery Zone 5.7 million acres. Identified 6 sub populations within NCDE. Genetic structure compared. 1976-1008 vs 1999-2007
-Female mortality rate in 2004 was 2x allowable rate.
-2004 detected 311 females. Total estimate of females 470. 12 females in Mission MTN BMU
SUMMARY:
Population faring better than sightings
Female mortality rate still a concern
Large differences in grizzly bear density
Range extends 2.6 million acres past recovery zone
High genetic diversity and possible recent increases in gene flow
Early signs that human development starting to inhibit interbreeding between bears
Study provides a baseline but a 1 year study cannot determine if recovery goals are
met.
Huge cooperative effort.
Research Objectives (now/future)
Population monitoring
Density patterns
Black bears: Population abundance distribution genetic health
Questioned if hair was used from cattle exclusion fences also; yes at a small rate. Hair was also taken off of ground.
Mike Madel: Bear specialist Rocky MTN Front
8 Management captures during the year – relocated
5 of 6 female
3 adults, 2 sub adults
Causes for management problems, garbage, dog food, chickens.
RMF saw extremes. Overall failure in chokecherry crop in 07, good crop in 2008. 18 conflicts – 13 with livestock depredation incidents. 75 sheep (Choteau area). Electric fences would have protected the sheep; 5 cattle; 1 possible horse, dozen poultry. $14,000 loss. $500.00 loss in behives. $7000.00 non-compensated because livestock owner did not participate in the cost share program. 1 residential incident. 1 mortality – female bear with 2 yearlings shot by hunter.
2008 14 grizzly bear 10 research (5 female; 5 male) Attached GPS collars. 4 Management bears captured and relocated. 3 long distance; 1 short distance relocations.
RMF bear mortality: 3 2 human caused; 1 drowned in high water. Expanding GB populations 1 bear sighted 12 miles E of Shelby. 600% male at Sun River. Wolf Creek bear killing chickens. Relocations successful.
Dan Carney: Blackfeed Tribe
Probably cattle kill in ______? Calf wounded. 6 grizzly bear caught (4 male; 2 female). 1 male caught several times. Removed to Pullman Washington. 2 females collared.
Mortalities: 1 killed by rancher east of recovery zone. Rancher still being considered for prosecution. 2 bear shot by bow hunter. Grizzly bear shot by pistol at close range. Shot an offspring. Neither of the offspring could be located. Blood trails (150 years) worked with dogs but could not locate the bears. Can’t consider those a mortality.
Jamie Jonkel: Clearwater Fish Wildlife and Parks
Block Management Areas 3-4 bears feeding on gutpiles and a horse. Thinking of closing the BLM till eases up. No frost, lost of moisture; lots of berries. Bears stayed out of trouple. More reports south of the heart of the Blackfoot. Some in the Lower Clark Fork; bears trying to move south. Conflicts down. No animosity. Handful of residential conflicts. Set traps. Female in upper reaches of Clearwater. Woodworth area. Female with young yearlings, early summer. Some bear showing complacent behavior with people.
Research – keep 2 females in Scapegoats collared. Captured last year in Helmville now in Lincoln/Prickley Pear area. New one caught this year north of Ovando. Staying out of trouble. No mortalities currently. Recorded females with young in Scapegoats – multiple families 8-10. cubs and yearlings.
Thanks to the South end support group, Bob Reisner, 3 interns. Funded through various resources. Doing preventative work. Clearwater Reource Council, 9 Mile Wildlife; Missoula Bear Task Resource.
Kathy Ake – See Handout CEM Data Base info.
Rick Mace: MT Fish Wildlife and Parks – Kalispell\
Grizzly Bear Population Trend Studies – full report at “http://fwp.mt.gov.wildthings.gov
Update of I & E issues:
Denise Germann lead for I & E Sub-committee.
2008 – 2 awards issued.
$500.00 tanning a hide – Glacier National Park. Scull prepared.
$5000.00 14th Ranger District Informational/educational program targeting
kids.
Ongoing Projects:
Update NCDE Website. Dan Carney will help with that project. Professional
webmaster on contract needs info input.
Denise will continue I & E for another year, but will relinquish after that. Mark Wilson asked for volunteers that might be interested.
Mark Wilson discussed email listing update; said he will incorporate names from sign in sheet to the mailing list.
Chris Servheen – Mortality Report
Anne will ask Chris for slides on his presentation
Initiated discussion for the need for a formal science review team for the NCDE to be implemented.
Purpose - provide more effective communication and coordination of efforts for topics that need to be addressed/approved by sub-committee. Team would look at issues to determine if best science is being used or if other processes need to be considered.
Policy level vs Science Group
Conservation, Strategy, Habitat.
Members from each agency involved. NPS, FS, FWS, FWP, Tribes, USGS, BLM, MT DNRC. Info sharing ongoing planned research and monitoring programs. Detailed reports provided by detailed researchers. Individual members cannot veto projects or plans.
Deadline for comments set for November 30th to subcommittee to put together a proposed final draft. Will send to managers to review and sign.
Mark Wilson – 10 Year Work Plan
10 Year work plan needs to be updated, tweeked. Idea that we are headed toward delisting. Plan agenda for next meeting towards progress of those activities.
Emphasized the mailing list will be updated. Suggested there should be a manager list and an “everybody list”.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Last 2 meetings there was a conversation about the status review, why it wasn’t on today’s agenda. Answer: Not as far along in status reviews because of legal issues. Incidental with that is this has been an election year and should now be completed by next spring. 5 year review give series of recommendations for threatened species. Changes in recovery plan may pursue a status change in those systems. 5 year review makes recommendations – no decisions. Circulate 5 year plan for comments prior to finalization.
Date for next meeting set for Thursday April 23rd 2009 in Helena. (Tentative – may be early May).
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