Problem black bear (Ursus americanus) dynamics in central Ontario in relation to the cancellation of the spring bear hunt (1999).

摘要

This study examined problem black bear (Ursus americanus ) dynamics in Central Ontario between 1995 and 2004. Data were collected from problem bear control agencies including the Ministry of Natural Resources. The objectives of the investigation were to document and compare problem bear activity in Sudbury, Parry Sound and Bracebridge areas before and after the cancellation of the spring bear hunt (1999). The results of this study support the conclusions that: (1) problem black bear populations in the Sudbury area are dominated by male juvenile animals; (2) the spring bear hunt cancellation significantly increased the annual number of complaint calls in all three study areas; (3) complaint calls are a good indicator of problem bear activity in the community; (4) the cancellation of the spring bear hunt significantly increased the annual number of problem bear captures in two of the three study areas; (5) significant decreases in the number of harvested juvenile bears reported for the province of Ontario, Parry Sound and Sudbury were found after the cancellation of the spring bear hunt; (6) the lower number of harvested juvenile bears reported (cohort most likely to be problematic) after the cancellation of the spring bear hunt most likely translated directly into more problem bear activity in the Sudbury and Parry Sound areas; (7) the cancellation of the spring bear hunt did not significantly change the total annual number of harvested bears reported at the provincial scale due to regional variation in hunting duration and effort; (8) on a regional scale, there were significantly lower numbers of harvested bears (all age classes) reported in the Sudbury and Parry Sound areas after the cancellation; (9) increases in complaint calls and captured problem bears are directly related to periods of low forage availability; (10) overall increases in problem bear activity occurred after the cancellation of the spring bear hunt independent of changes in food availability; (11) bears were more likely to hit an alternate food source during poor forage years; (12) the Bear Population Index is not likely a good indicator of population density; (13) increases in orphan cub numbers were associated with poor forage years and not the cancellation of the spring bear hunt; (14) the cancellation of the spring bear hunt in 1999 had a significant impact on problem black bear dynamics and the amount of problem bear activity in the province and (15) the question of whether the cancellation of the spring bear hunt represented a good management strategy should be revisited.