NATIONAL PARK SERVICE Demography of Grizzly Bears in Relation to Hunting and Mining Development in Northwestern Alaska

We tested the following working hypotheses:

1. Ho¹: Bear densities within the Noatak River study area (NRSA) are relatively high in relation to those found elsewhere in arctic Alaska,

2. Ho²: Human harvests of grizzly bears are within sustained yield levels,

3. Ho³: Satellite telemetry is a useful and cost effective tool for evaluating bear movements,

4. Ho⁴: Adult male and female grizzly bears would be displaced from the Red Dog Mine area because of construction and operation of the mine, and

5. Ho⁵: Bear densities surrounding the mine site will be less after development and operation than they were before mine activity.

Our overall goals were to estimate density, sex and age structure, movements, and reproduction parameters of a grizzly bear population in the southwestern Brooks Range. The original study design was provided by Ballard (1987). The objectives of this study included the following:

1. Estimate reproduction rate and mortality of grizzly bears within a selected study area in northwestern Alaska,

2. Compare daily and seasonal-use patterns of adult grizzly bears before and after development of the Red Dog Mine,

3. Determine short-term changes in behavior and habitat use of bears related to development and operation of the Red Dog Mine and associated roads,

4. Compare the utility of conventional telemetry with satellite telemetry for determining seasonal habitat use and home range sizes,

5. Evaluate the effects of hunting on the bear population, and

6. Provide recommendations for monitoring the status of the bear population in relation to hunting and mining development.