Joe Northrup has completed his M.Sc. thesis on grizzly bear habitat selection and movement in relation to roads and access. Throughout the last 3 years the research team captured and collared 7 grizzly bears and equipped them with GPS radiocollars set to obtain locations once every hour. They also deployed over 70 traffic counters and trail cameras to determine the traffic patterns on roads in the area. These data were used examine grizzly bear habitat selection and movement in relation to roads.
Joe's research indicates that grizzly bears in southwest Alberta avoided roads traveled by more than 20 cars per day, especially during daylight, when bears moved very little, and tended to spend more time bedding. After dark, when most roads in the area were less busy, grizzly bears were more active and did not avoid roads, often using them as potential travel routes.
(Click on any image for a large view)
Another aspect of Joe's research focused on bear-human conflict on the ranchlands in southwest Alberta. Using data from the GPS collars, combined with 10 years of data on conflicts, from Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Joe was able to outline areas on the ranchlands that were both more susceptible to conflict, but also where bears were more likely to be. The maps created from this analysis currently are being used by SRD to plan and implement measures to reduce bear-human conflict. These measures, of which Shell has been an integral part, include securing grain bins and purchasing bear-proof bins in which to compost dead livestock.
