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

The philosophy of management for the National Park Service (NPS) units established under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) is to maintain natural and healthy populations of wildlife in parks and monuments and healthy populations in preserves. Before this study, the only data available on the health of the grizzly bear population in northwestern Alaska were from harvest statistics. This limited and possibly inaccurate information, as well as the development of the Red Dog Mine in the vicinity of important grizzly bear habitat, highlighted the need to directly measure the demography of the grizzly population.

This study of grizzly bear demography and movements included two National Park Service units—Cape Krusenstern National Monument (CAKR) and Noatak National Preserve (NOAT). The research area also included lands owned or managed by the State of Alaska, Bureau of Land Management, the regional native corporation (NANA), and several private land owners. The study area centered on the new Red Dog Mine project that was developed on NANA-owned lands between CAKR and NOAT.

The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act established the NPS units in northwestern Alaska. The act also allows for subsistence hunting in national parks and monuments and sport and subsistence hunting in national preserves. Subsistence uses are defined in NPS regulations as "the customary and traditional uses by rural Alaska residents of wild, renewable resources for direct personal or family consumption...and for customary trade..." The harvest of grizzly bears in northwestern Alaska meets these criteria and, therefore, is allowed in NOAT and CAKR. Sport hunting is allowed in NOAT, a national preserve. The State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Game, is responsible for determining hunting regulations on all lands within the state with the provision that, on federal lands, the regulations must be consistent with ANILCA and agency policy.

The interagency team for this study reflects the reality that grizzly bears range over large areas and their need for food, shelter, and mates often requires crossing political boundaries. As a natural resource held in common, it is incumbent on land managers to obtain the best information possible to ensure scientifically sound management of grizzly bear populations. This study was an attempt to do that.

KATE RONEY FAULKNER
Chief, Resources Management
Channel Islands National Park