scooter
07-27-2006, 12:36 PM
Good article in the Journal today to distribute. Ryk
BEAR RESEARCH
Hunting may help bear population
Study shows adult males kill fewer cubs when regulated hunt is on
BOB WEBBER The Canadian Press
EDMONTON
Regulated bear hunting may improve a newborn cub’s chances of survival, suggests new researchfrom the University of Alberta.
The finding contradicts theories that huntingcreates higher rates of ursineinfanticide as adult male bears,chased from their regular range, kill cubs they havenot sired.
The research,being reviewed for publication by the bear biology journal Ursus, found that cubs had a 25-per-cent better chanceof survivalin an Alberta area whereblackbear huntingis allowed thanina neighbouring region whereit is forbidden.
“We compared a hunted population and an unhunted population,” said Sophie Czetwertynski,aPhDcandidate at the University of Alberta.“In the hunted population, wehadmuchhigher cub survival and higher productivity of females.”
Some biologists argue that hunting forces adult male bears tomovefrom their accustomed ranges. That disrupts the social structureandbrings males into contact withfemales they wouldn’t normally meet.
The theory is that if the female has cubs, the new male will kill them and breed withher himself — what biologists call sexually selectedinfanticide.As well, rampaging males cause sows to drift towardpoorer habitat to avoid them, leaving herself and her cubs with fewer resources.
The conclusion is that hunting hits bears with a triple whammy: the shot bears, thecubs they killbeforebeing shot and the poorer reproductive success of the females who try tododge them.
But Czetwertynski’s study suggests it isn’t so.
She monitored 290 bears over four years in the Cold Lake Weapons Testing Rangeon the Alberta-Saskatchewanboundary, whichdoes not allow hunting,and the adjacent areaaround Conklin, whichdoes.
She found 83 per cent of cubs survived in the hunted area while the comparablefigurein thenon-huntedarea was 66 per cent. As well, females in the hunted areabegan reproducing earlier.
“It doesn’t mean we canprove that (infanticide) is not occurring,but it does seem that it just doesn’t have that strong aneffect.”
Czetwertynski said the two study areas have the same quality of habitat and about the same volume of industrial activity.
She suggests the Cold Lake bears do morepoorly because their population density is almost too muchfor the land to support.
“The effect of (density) seems tooverpower the effect of (infanticide).”
Theissueofbear huntinginAlbertahas been controversialfor years. The province recently implemented a threeyear banon the spring grizzly hunt after a survey suggested the number of the bears was considerably lower thanpreviously thought.
Czetwertynskidoesn’t opposehunting. Infact, her research was partly funded by theAlbertaProfessionalOutfittersSociety.Shehas also workedas abear hunting guide in Quebec, although she has also workedfor groups such as Defenders of Wildlife.
But she saysmanagement decisions regarding bears should beguided by science, not by political concerns.
“We really want toknow what the effects are. But if the hunt is going to be stopped, we want it stopped on ecologicalperspectives.”
Biologist Sophie Czetwertynski holds two bear cubs. Czetwertynski’s study,conducted in two regions of northern Alberta, suggests bear cubs may stand abetter chanceof surviving in areas that allow bear hunting.
BEAR RESEARCH
Hunting may help bear population
Study shows adult males kill fewer cubs when regulated hunt is on
BOB WEBBER The Canadian Press
EDMONTON
Regulated bear hunting may improve a newborn cub’s chances of survival, suggests new researchfrom the University of Alberta.
The finding contradicts theories that huntingcreates higher rates of ursineinfanticide as adult male bears,chased from their regular range, kill cubs they havenot sired.
The research,being reviewed for publication by the bear biology journal Ursus, found that cubs had a 25-per-cent better chanceof survivalin an Alberta area whereblackbear huntingis allowed thanina neighbouring region whereit is forbidden.
“We compared a hunted population and an unhunted population,” said Sophie Czetwertynski,aPhDcandidate at the University of Alberta.“In the hunted population, wehadmuchhigher cub survival and higher productivity of females.”
Some biologists argue that hunting forces adult male bears tomovefrom their accustomed ranges. That disrupts the social structureandbrings males into contact withfemales they wouldn’t normally meet.
The theory is that if the female has cubs, the new male will kill them and breed withher himself — what biologists call sexually selectedinfanticide.As well, rampaging males cause sows to drift towardpoorer habitat to avoid them, leaving herself and her cubs with fewer resources.
The conclusion is that hunting hits bears with a triple whammy: the shot bears, thecubs they killbeforebeing shot and the poorer reproductive success of the females who try tododge them.
But Czetwertynski’s study suggests it isn’t so.
She monitored 290 bears over four years in the Cold Lake Weapons Testing Rangeon the Alberta-Saskatchewanboundary, whichdoes not allow hunting,and the adjacent areaaround Conklin, whichdoes.
She found 83 per cent of cubs survived in the hunted area while the comparablefigurein thenon-huntedarea was 66 per cent. As well, females in the hunted areabegan reproducing earlier.
“It doesn’t mean we canprove that (infanticide) is not occurring,but it does seem that it just doesn’t have that strong aneffect.”
Czetwertynski said the two study areas have the same quality of habitat and about the same volume of industrial activity.
She suggests the Cold Lake bears do morepoorly because their population density is almost too muchfor the land to support.
“The effect of (density) seems tooverpower the effect of (infanticide).”
Theissueofbear huntinginAlbertahas been controversialfor years. The province recently implemented a threeyear banon the spring grizzly hunt after a survey suggested the number of the bears was considerably lower thanpreviously thought.
Czetwertynskidoesn’t opposehunting. Infact, her research was partly funded by theAlbertaProfessionalOutfittersSociety.Shehas also workedas abear hunting guide in Quebec, although she has also workedfor groups such as Defenders of Wildlife.
But she saysmanagement decisions regarding bears should beguided by science, not by political concerns.
“We really want toknow what the effects are. But if the hunt is going to be stopped, we want it stopped on ecologicalperspectives.”
Biologist Sophie Czetwertynski holds two bear cubs. Czetwertynski’s study,conducted in two regions of northern Alberta, suggests bear cubs may stand abetter chanceof surviving in areas that allow bear hunting.