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INUVIK
A proposal for a research project could reveal if some developing problems with the local grizzly population can be easily fixed.

Kristen Callaghan, a wildlife biologist with the Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board, wants to head up a pilot project to monitor grizzlies along the Dempster Highway. - T. Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo

The project, proposed by wildlife biologist Kristen Callaghan of the Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board in Inuvik and in partnership with local renewable resource councils and government departments, would see a patrol set up to monitor interactions between grizzly bears and humans along the Dempster Highway.

The problem that has developed is a potentially serious one for both the bear population and for people using the highway, said Callaghan. Grizzlies are coming to associate the human traffic along the Dempster with food sources, she explained.

One of the main reasons for that is due to some caribou hunters, who, because they are nervous of the bears, often clean their kills right along the side of the highway, Callaghan said. That's convenient for loading the carcasses into a vehicle and provides them a measure of protection, she said.

What's been happening, though, is that some of the hunters aren't removing the gut piles from the shoulder of the highway, either by packing that refuse up and taking it with them or by dragging or carrying it even a short distance off the highway.

The bears, of course, are attracted by this easy and readily-available food source. That means they're drawn to the highway, where all kinds of other problems can develop.

Potentially, the bears could be hit by vehicles. A bigger problem, Callaghan suggested, is that the presence of the bears causes other people to stop to view and photograph them. Some of those people might also be feeding the bears.

Interestingly, Callaghan also said there's anecdotal evidence that grizzlies are coming to associate the sound of gunfire with the prospect of an easy meal. The bears seem to know that a rifle shot means there are hunters around who have likely made a kill.

Some hunters are saying the bears have even tried to drive them off of their kills before they can clean the caribou. That's why many hunters have taken to cleaning the animals as close to their vehicles as possible.

It's possible, if not likely, that the caribou leftovers are becoming an important food source for the bears, she said.

All of these interactions with people that are "neutral or positive" help to diminish the bears' natural fear and wariness of people, which Callaghan said is not a good thing.

There's been comparatively little research done on the issue, although the grizzly population in the Inuvik region has been well-studied, Callaghan said.

As far as researchers know, the bears are doing well, and there is comparatively little hunting pressure on them. She said most hunters in the region aren't interested in hunting the bears.

The local bears are considered part of the typical interior population, Callaghan added.

The proposal, which is still looking to attract funding from local governments, has a four-pronged approach. The active segment would see a staff person drive the Dempster Highway, particularly along the NWT-Yukon boundary, where the problem seems to be worst, and remove the gut piles from along the highway. That could either be to some kind of central depot or simply transfer them further into the bush off the road.

Second, a form has been designed for anyone encountering a grizzly along the highway to fill out. The form would track the details of the encounter, the date, and description of the bear. That could help narrow down whether it's a small number of bears attracted to the highway or if it's a population-wide phenomenon.

Those forms could be dropped off in various locations. The Inuvik Visitor Centre will be one of the prime locations. At the moment, Callaghan said researchers like herself have only informal anecdotal evidence to rely on to gauge the problem. If this project is approved, it should give them improved information to work with.

The third arm of the project would be public education. Callaghan said she'd like to see hunters encouraged to remove the gut piles or to keep them away from the road, as well as general education reminding people to be cautious around the bears and not to feed them.

Fourth, biologists for the projects will survey the bears to gauge whether the management of the gut piles has had any impact on their behaviour.

It's likely to take some time, perhaps several years, to determine if removing the caribou remains and other sources of food along the highway will break the bears of their habit of looking for an easy snack, Callaghan said.

It would be operated out of Inuvik with participation from various partners, including Mike Suitor, a regional biologist with the Yukon government out of Dawson. He was in the field doing research and couldn't be contacted by the Inuvik Drum by press deadline.

Amy Thompson, the executive director of the Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board, said the organization is looking for partners to help fund the project, but it will proceed even if no other money is forthcoming.

The board has promised $14,000. An application has been made to the Aurora Research Institute and the Yukon government. The GNWT has been approached on an informal basis for funding. Three research assistants and all costs for the project would total $35,000. If other funding sources aren't available and this total isn't met, the project will proceed, with limited field work, according to Thompson.

"The project will still proceed."

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