Enumerating brown and black bear populations using non-invasive genetic sampling and documenting and mitigating bear conflicts in the McCarthy-Kennecott area of Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve (MS Research Proposal)
Dates
Year
2000
Citation
Wilder, James M., 2000, Enumerating brown and black bear populations using non-invasive genetic sampling and documenting and mitigating bear conflicts in the McCarthy-Kennecott area of Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve (MS Research Proposal): U.S. National Park Service, 17 Pages.
Summary
Wrangell-St. Elias is experiencing rapidly increasing development along the McCarthy Road and in the McCarthy-Kennecott area; a major component of the increase was the National Park Service's acquistion of the historic Kennecott Mill Site in 1998. As a result, the area has recently experienced road improvements, increased tourist traffic, construction of new visitor facilities, and new construction on and development of private properties. These factors have a strong potential to negatively affect the resident bear populations and to dramatically increase the number of bear-human conflicts. At this time, we have the opportunity to collect biological and ecological data that can be used to mitigate or eliminate some of the potential [...]
Summary
Wrangell-St. Elias is experiencing rapidly increasing development along the McCarthy Road and in the McCarthy-Kennecott area; a major component of the increase was the National Park Service's acquistion of the historic Kennecott Mill Site in 1998. As a result, the area has recently experienced road improvements, increased tourist traffic, construction of new visitor facilities, and new construction on and development of private properties. These factors have a strong potential to negatively affect the resident bear populations and to dramatically increase the number of bear-human conflicts. At this time, we have the opportunity to collect biological and ecological data that can be used to mitigate or eliminate some of the potential problems between bears and humans. NPS would also be better equipped to focus on visitor and McCarthy-Kennecott area resident education regarding co-existence with bears. More data would allow NPS to plan the location of proposed campgrounds and trash transfer sites in areas of low potential conflict.
