June 2022 - 8

NEWS
Laramie Range black bear research
estimates range size, abundance
WHEATLAND - Researchers in
southeastern Wyoming are surveying black
bears to better understand the species and
provide the best management possible. The
effort is part of a larger project that started
in 2015 in which the large carnivore section
of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department
began monitoring black bear populations
throughout the state in the Laramie
Range, Wyoming Range, Sierra Madre and
Bighorn mountains.
In 2020 Game and Fish captured 23
bears and fitted 15 with GPS collars in the
Laramie Range. Data from the collars allows
Game and Fish biologists to estimate the
size of black bear home ranges and develop
the layout of noninvasive, hair snares. Hair
collected from snares identifies individual
bears and is used in population modeling that
allows Game and Fish personnel to estimate
total density and abundance of bears within
the study area.
A better informed density and abundance
estimates of bears is instrumental for
evaluating black bear management strategies
such as harvest limits and provides a more
detailed understanding of black bear
population dynamics in Wyoming.
" The density and abundance estimates
from this research will be very useful
information in compiling our hunting
season proposals for the upcoming review
cycle of black bear hunting seasons in 2023, "
said Keaton Weber, Game and Fish wildlife
biologist in Wheatland.
The ongoing black bear monitoring around
the state has led to a collaboration with the
University of Wyoming in conducting black
bear research within the Laramie Range and
other portions of Wyoming. The goal of this
research is to better understand black bear
habitat use and behavior in relation to bait
sites during the hunting seasons.
As of this spring, nine of the 15 collars in
the Laramie Range were still active on bears.
Game and Fish and UW researchers are using
data from the collars in a variety of ways to
inform future management decisions. For
8 | June 2022
Wyoming Game and Fish Department Large Carnivore Biologist Ryan Kindermann, right, and Large Carnivore Technician Emily
Davis gather data on a black bear as part of the Game and Fish's ongoing research. (WGFD photo)
example, location data will help determine
specific black bear habitat use and movement
throughout the year.
During capture and placement of the
collars other biological data is recorded
such as age, sex and body condition. These
attributes indicate individual variation in
bears and allow researchers to determine
correlations between bear movements
and behavior around bait sites. Biological
data paired with movement data will help
researchers understand how bears vary their
daily movements in relation to bait use.
Large males likely interact with baits much
differently than females with cubs, or even
young males.
Black bear monitoring in the Laramie
Range will continue throughout the summer,
and systemic monitoring of black bears
throughout Wyoming will continue as part
of annual data collection.
- WGFD staff

June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2022