Black bears & grizzly bears a key link in salmon lifecycle and forest ecosystem

Twilight is falling along the river, where the shadows of high peaks began creeping by late afternoon. Standing in the mud of a quiet pool, a beara shadow itself in the gathering eveningreaches into the water. It scoops up with dexterous paws the spawned-out carcass of a salmon.

Grasping the fish in its mouth the bear moves several meters into the security of the riverside brush before settling down to eat. To the unseen observer across the water the bear seems to melt into those silent willows, bear and fish both ghosts in the blue-cast light of dusk.

This scene is played out wherever grizzly and black bears share the landscape with salmon. It is a story of marvelous symmetry, in which the salmon and bear nurture each other.

A large male black bear takes a leisurely stroll through the foliage at Park Creek Pass.
Photo: Kevin Thurner

Bears through the ages have scooped from wild rivers the tired or dying salmon that had returned to spawn. Seeking security, some bears carry their meals a distance from the river. Others feed while in or near the water.

On shore, their leftovers feed many organisms, from ravens, eagles, foxes and coyotes which scavenge them, to the microbes and insects that finish them off.

The distribution of the fish back into the earth continues wherever bears and scavengers relieve themselvesscattering fish fertilizer throughout the forest.

The same occurs within the river: microbes and aquatic insects break down bears' fishy feces, as well as the remaining salmon carcasses. The return of these nutrients to the earth fertilizes the riparian forest, which in turn protects the next generations of salmon by reducing erosion and providing cooling shade to spawning streams.

Nutrients returned directly to the water nurture developing salmon eggs, strengthening them and allowing more to flourish.

The salmon's decline disturbed this cycle, but although salmon may never regain their former glory, it is yet possible to mend this tear in life's web. In the meantime, bears are resilient. They eat most anything, and the North Cascades provide fine habitat.

With effort on our part, both bears and salmon will have a long future together in these wild mountains - and in the hearts of people for whom both life forms hold spiritual meaning as deep as the shadowed river valleys.

Mountain goats
The perfectly adapted 'antelope' of the Cascades

Mountain goats are right at home in the rugged high-altitude environments of the North Cascades.
NPS Photo

During the summer, many family groups make their home on Mt. Baker and numerous other peaks. These animals can sometimes be observed at a distance from Artist Point and other viewpoints.

Mornings and evenings they browse on huckleberry and shrubs. Mid-days they are more sedentary, often resting on snow banks during warm summer afternoons.

In winter, bands of goats move down to south facing ledges, where they gain some protection from harsh winter elements.

Solar exposure and valley winds allow goats to forage for lichen, grasses and shrubs on snow-free bluffs.

Amongst the crags and ridges of this wilderness dwell supreme mountaineers. Mountain goats, which are actually more closely related to antelopes than goats, are superbly adapted to the harsh conditions of the North Cascades.

They traverse the steep terrain aided by their strong muscular forequarters, scrambling over rocky slopes on split, pliable hooves with soft rubbery pads and a hard outer lining. Their compact bodies with thick, hollow hair and wool "subfur" help hold heat and repel the elements.

In the North Cascades, about 1,200 goats occupy a five county area. In contrast with the introduced goats that thrive on the Olympic peninsula, the native population in the Cascades seems to be dwindling.

In this area mountain goats experience 60-70 percent mortality in the first year of life and 50 percent during the second. Causes of death include avalanches, falls, predation (cougar, golden eagles) and poor winter conditions causing stress and parasite loads.

So where, specifically, are the mountain goats in the North Cascades? Park Resource Managers (and visitors) wanted to know.

Since capturing and tagging goats in rugged mountain terrain is dangerous for both goat and researcher, information about habitat was collected from backcountry users. These statistics were entered into a computer linked to a Geographic Information System (GIS). By combining geographic data with reported locations of goats, a map of probable habitat was developed.

This research helps resource managers assess potential impacts on mountain goats when evaluating proposed projects in the park such as trail construction and other development.

Visitor reports are invaluable and greatly appreciated. You can help our understanding of these fascinating animals by reporting sightings to park representatives.

Have gray wolves returned to NOCA?

Gray wolves roamed North America coast to coast for 10,000 years until they were hunted and trapped to near-extinction by fur traders, settlers and government sponsored eradication programs.

After a long absence wolves were reported roaming along the Canadian border since 1984. Adult wolves were seen with pups in 1990 and finally a wolf was captured on film near the Hozomeen in 1991.

The wolves had returned ... or so it seemed.

In the decade since, the park has worked largely without success to document the presence of wolves in the North Cascades. Tracks or audible signs of wolves are evidenced each year, yet these notoriously shy and intelligent animals have not been caught on film since Biologist Scott Fitkin photographed one in 1991.

Other forms of monitoring such as howling surveys do indicate, however, that wolves may be in the early stages of recolonizing the North Cascades.

If wolves have returned, they most likely migrated south from Canada where they are more common.

Habitat loss and hunting pressure to the north may have been the driving factors behind gray wolves returning to the North Cascades.

Whatever the case, wolves are a welcome addition to the park's ecosystem. They strengthen the vigor of prey population such as elk, deer, beaver and marmot by removing the sick, weak, diseased and injured.

Most places where wolves roam, people are completely unaware of their presence. If while visiting the park you do happen to see a wolf or its sign, report it immediately by calling the wolf hotline at 1-800-722-4095. Take pictures or make notes as soon as possible, making sure to record the location.

To learn more about wolves in the North Cascades visit http://www.nps.gov/noca/wolf.htm.