Grizzly #427: Not many people are familiar with grizzly #427 in Yellowstone National Park. #427 calls south and central Yellowstone his home. Frequently throughout his life, he has been observed on various spawning streams surrounding Yellowstone Lake. He has been dubbed the infamous “Preacher Bear.” Few visitors have been given the opportunity to watch #427 in action as he fishes for Cutthroat Trout in Little Thumb Creek, or Arnica Creek. No matter the case, when #427 does emerge as a ‘ghost’ from the wilderness, he doesn’t disappoint. In past years, others have watched him furiously attempt to break through thick ice near Bluff Point, or even rip through an old overwintered carcass near Old Faithful. We really only have a little snapshot of #427 life, and that was by pure accident. He was suspected to be a possible nuisance bear in the Bridge Bay Campground area in Lake District, and was captured for management purposes on June 16, 2003 at 6 years-old. At the time he was captured, he was fitted with a radio collar, relocated, and later released. On September 22, 2003, he was captured at Arnica Creek, YNP. In 2005, #427 cast his collar. He would not be collared again until June 21, 2016, when he was captured at Flat Mountain Arm and fitted with a new radio collar. As of 2018, #427 is currently 21 years-old. Most bears in Yellowstone live to be 25-30 years old. Figure 2: Known life history and range of grizzly #427 in Yellowstone National Park between 2003 and 2017. This map depicts areas where #427 has been captured and areas where visitors have submitted credible observations. The area highlighted and filled green is the area where 95%+ observations of #427 have been documented since 2003. The area highlighted in orange represents the area where #427 has been observed but infrequently. Grizzly #427 could use this area, but the exact use of this area is unknown unless referring to Iridium GPS data from 2016-present. Only visual observations from visitors during 2015-2017 are noted on this figure. This figure is not a representation of actual home range. A minimum convex polygon (MCP) would estimate #427 range approximately ~480 km2 between 2003-2017.
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Grizzly bear lineage: I had someone ask a few weeks ago if grizzly #211 (known to many as ‘Scarface’) had any descendents or offspring they could look for in the park. Now, with new advances in DNA, when the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) capture, collar and tag grizzlies, they also take DNA samples for reference. These can be compared against other samples into the future, and help identify genetic relatedness. The only bears that use to have DNA collected were those that had been handled and captured. Nowadays, DNA can be obtained via non-invasive methods such as 'hair snares' or 'hair corrals' which instigate the bear to rub against an object; the researcher can retrieve hair later and send it to the lab to be analyzed.
Based on information that has been gathered, there is one bear we know if the offspring of bear #211, and that is #665. Brief history: Grizzly bear #86 was born around 1970. On July 5, 1982, at age 12, she was captured at Antelope Creek, YNP; that year she was observed with no cubs. Two years later, July 5, 1984, she was captured again at Antelope Creek, YNP; this year, she was observed with three yearlings. In 1985, she booted all three offspring. One of those bears was #125. Grizzly #125 was first captured August 6, 1986 at Antelope Creek, YNP. She was captured again during July 1, 1990, that year observed with two cubs-of-the-year (COY). In 1991, she still had her two cubs as yearlings, and in 1992 she booted her two cubs at two-years old. In 1994, she was observed with her second litter of two COY. However, during the fall of 1995 when she was captured on October 13, neither cub was anywhere to be found. In 1997, her third litter of two COY was observed; during 1998 she had both cubs as yearlings. She would not have cubs again until 2002, where she for the fourth time, had a litter of two COY. One of those COY was grizzly #665. She would later be struck by a vehicle that year. #125 was again collared in 2006 at age 23 and was observed with three COY in 2007. That same year, #665 was observed with two COY (prior to collaring). Later during the year, #125 was observed with only 1 cub; #665, then unmarked, was observed with 4 cubs. It is suspected that #665 adopted her mother's (#125) cubs after they had been separated from her. #665 was involved in a management capture near the Yellowstone River in 2010, the perpetrator of chicken depredations. She was relocated to Arnica Creek with her two COY. At the time, DNA was confirmed she was the offspring of #125 and #211, making her the daughter of the late ‘Scarface.’ She received the nickname “the Dunraven sow,” as many observed her near Dunraven Pass. The following year, she unfortunately was observed with no offspring. She later dropped her collar on Halloween in 2011 near Sulfur Creek, YNP. The fate of #665 is unknown, and we may never know if she is alive, or deceased. Being 9 years old in 2011 would place her at about 16 years old. She could very well still be out in the wilds of Yellowstone. If you have purchased a grizzly chart, one thing that you should know! One the photo identification side, two ID numbers are flip flopped! Grizzly F10 should be F06.....and F06 should be F10. The grizzly F10 is commonly known to many as "Quad-mom." The numbers listed on the map are correct!
Please let me know if you have any questions! Thanks! Hello all!
You can now purchase the Yellowstone National Park Grizzly Family Identification chart! $7.00 plus shipping. Standard shipping and USPS Priority(1-3 days). All proceeds are donated to Yellowstone Forever (bear boxes etc.) and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. Photo Credit: Yellowstone National Park, 2018 Bear Management Areas (BMA) – In recent days, questions have come about in regard to bear management areas or known as “BMA’s” in Yellowstone National Park. **This material is subject to change at any time due to new available resources** Why were they created? What is the purpose of BMA’s? Why are some BMA’s restricted access or closed to public? What criteria defines each BMA? First, let’s outline the objectives of bear management in Yellowstone. The bear management office in the Yellowstone Center for Resources has several objectives. These include preserving and maintaining the genetic integrity, distribution, and behavior of bear populations in Yellowstone; educating the public and visitors about bear ecology, bear human conflicts, conflict resolution and prevention; making anthropogenic food sources inaccessible; make visitors aware of bear presence, dangers of backcountry recreation and how to react during an encounter or confrontation. Most importantly, in my opinion, they are responsible for providing safe opportunities for visitors to observe and appreciate bear in their natural habitat within Yellowstone National Park. Why were they created? What is their purpose? The construction of BMA’s was implemented in Yellowstone in 1983. The specific program restricts visitor and recreational use in areas which have seasonal concentrations of grizzly bears. The main goals of the program are:
Those who are performing research in the park in managed areas can gain access through obtaining permission. Additionally, backcountry patrols and monitoring can be carried out in these areas, but are often times kept to a minimum. What areas are BMA’s and when are they closed? (Fig. 1) A. Firehole: closed March 10- Friday of Memorial Day weekend
F. Washburn: closed from August 1 – November 10
N. Grant Village: campground opens June 20 or earlier if bear use of spawning streams is over prior to that time
The specific reasons why each of these areas are seasonally restricted or closed varies by location and resources available. Most BMA are in place due to high elk (Fig. 3) and bison density (Fig. 2), or abundance of key resources (i.e. whitebark pine, trout, etc.) (Fig. 4). Please consider areas where bison and elk are present also means calves are available as a food resource. Vegetation is seasonal; one or more types of preferred vegetation can be found within each of the BMA’s. (Fig 1)
Areas where carcasses are typically greatest in Yellowstone are: Heart Lake, Northern Range (Lamar Valley), Norris Geyser Basin, Mud Volcano, and Firehole River area. Carcasses are more prevalent in these areas because of ungulate migration, movement patterns, and density. The number of carcasses during each year may largely vary according to the previous winter season severity (wolves and other predators also generate ungulate carcasses). Surveys are conducted annually to account for the number of carcasses in the previously listed locations. When carcasses are not available in these areas, bears may seek out vegetation and other food resources which include but are not limited to: oniongrass bulbs, spring beauty corms, earthworms, pocket gophers, ants, grasses, sedges, clover, dandelion, and even geothermal soil; ingestion of geothermal soil assists in restoring mineral deficiencies; high concentrations of potassium, magnesium, sulfur (Mattson et al. 1999). Grizzlies are omnivore generalists and have great dietary plasticity; they can easily switch to other resources. “Bear” in mind, grizzlies can pick from 170+ different plant species to eat. This also comes with seasonal variation with what plants are available. Just because one disappears, does not necessarily spell out disaster. Bear management areas (BMA) are a topic of recent conversation. The park is currently exploring options for re-evaluating these areas to better represent changes in use/activity, distribution, and resource availability for grizzlies. Two areas up for consideration are Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley. For years, management has made efforts and attempts to restrict Hayden Valley to “no off-trail travel,” though efforts have failed. Citations: Gunther, K.A. (1994). Yellowstone National Park: Bear Management Plan. Bear Management Office, Yellowstone Center for Resources, Yellowstone National Park, National Park Service, U.S. Department of Interior.
Photo: Yellowstone National Park, NPS When you hear the name “Scarface,” you might think of the violent 1983 film starring Al Pacino. However, when we talk about “Scarface,” we are referring to a 25-year old male grizzly who called Yellowstone National Park his home. 'GB 211 was born 1990, and first captured and radio collared at age 3, the victim of a non-target management capture on Chittenden Road, near Mount Washburn. Through his life, 211 would be captured an additional 16 times, extremely uncommon for a grizzly in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). GB 211 occupied a lifetime range approximately 1500 km2, and occasionally traveled even further to sections of the park you would least expect to find him. The average home range size for a male grizzly in Yellowstone is 874 km2. ‘Scarface’ did not always have such prominent scars and markings. It wasn’t until around 2000 that researchers with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) and Yellowstone Bear Management (YBM), first noted his scars. Scars are typically found around the head and neck region of male bears; this is where they generally bite one another while they fight. When GB 211 was in his prime, he was approximately 600lbs, which is on the larger end of the weight spectrum for Yellowstone grizzlies. The heaviest recorded adult male grizzly in YNP was 715lb. For an adult female, the heaviest recorded was 436lbs. The average weight for male bears in YNP is 413lbs; for females, it is 269lbs. While ‘Scarface’ wasn’t the oldest bear documented in Yellowstone, he reached the ripe age of 25-years old. The oldest documented bear in Yellowstone was 31-years old. The last time ‘Scarface’ was captured was Antelope Creek in Yellowstone on August 31, 2015; he weighed on 338 lbs., nearly half of what he weighed during his prime. GB 211 exhibited signs typically consistent with deteriorating health. Photo: Eric Johnston (left, center) Yellowstone National Park, NPS (far right) On November 18, 2015 at approximately 6:20 pm, ‘Scarface’ was unfortunately the victim of a hunting related “self-defense” kill or what US Fish and Wildlife calls “DLP” defense of life or property. Upon the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) release, we learned that based on the evidence gathered, there was not enough evidence for US Fish and Wildlife to press charges against the hunter, and that the evidence recovered was consistent with the statement he provided. Photo: Neal Herbert, NPS Instead of focusing on how GB 211 lost his life, we should rather reflect on the tremendous amount of data this bear contributed in grizzly bear research, and how this knowledge and information can better help us understand the species going into the future.
For those of us who had the opportunity and ability to view and observe GB 211 ‘Scarface’ in his natural Yellowstone habitat, cherish those memories. Do not forget your experiences. Be a voice for grizzly bear conservation into the future. Sources: (1.) Yellowstone Grizzly Bear Facts, www.nps.gov/yell/learn/yellowstone-grizzly-bear-facts.htm (2.) The Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team, https://www.usgs.gov/science/interagency-grizzly-bear-study-team?qt-science_center_objects=0#qt-science_center_objects (3.) Billings Gazette, “FWP confirms grizzly killed near Yellowstone was well-known male No. 211, Scarface” by Brett French Photos: Jim Peaco, NPS GB 264 called the northwest corner of Yellowstone her home. From the north Gallatin’s, all the way to Norris, 264 was reserved, but not shy when it came to giving visitors a spectacle. She was one of the more visible, well-known grizzlies during her 12 years in Yellowstone National Park. This was probably because she was collared, making her easily recognizable, and the mere fact she frequented near and around the roadway. Her popularity over the years soared. Visitors would come to the park just for a chance sighting of her. During her 12 years, she produced cubs on three occasions. During 1997, she gave birth to two cubs-of-the-year (COY). Unfortunately, GB 264 was captured for management purposes on June 18, 1997; at this time, one of her two cubs was euthanized due of injuries. Later that year, 264 would lose her second and only remaining cub. In 1999, GB 264 was observed with two COY emerging from her den, only then to lose both of them later that year. In 2000, GB 264 emerged from her den with another litter of two COY; in 2002 she was observed with two cubs. Around 6:30pm on Saturday, June 15, 2003, the park was notified that a bear had been hit near Norris. Upon arrival, rangers discovered GB 264 near Norris campground. The driver of the vehicle stated that the bear darted out into the roadway when it was struck. Park officials deemed that speed was not a factor in the incident. Park rangers brought 264 to Mammoth for an assessment, and then drove her to a veterinarian in Bozeman, MT. Veterinary exam found her back was broken, and the lower half of her body was paralyzed. The following day, Sunday, June 16, 2003, GB264 was euthanized. http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/injuries-fatal-to-popular-grizzly/article_0fb40f69-4392-5244-8d5f-e134e02d7f9c.html Photos: Jim Peaco, NPS
Photo credit: taken by Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, MT. The storied life of Sow 101: Grizzly bear (GB) 101 was captured seven times (three management captures) during the 20 years she spent in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). She lived the majority of her life in the western section of the Yellowstone National Park, in close proximity to human recreation areas and the urbanized town of West Yellowstone, MT. First collared in 1983, after a management capture in Big Springs, ID, GB 101 was soon transported to Antelope Creek, YNP. However, it wouldn’t be long before she would find her way back to the western section of the park. In 1986, GB 101 was again captured at Richard’s Pond in YNP (research purposes) (~60km from Antelope Creek, YNP). This was the general area where GB 101 spent a good majority of her life. However, in 1994, while supporting two yearlings, GB 101 was captured at Rainbow Point, MT and removed to Buffalo Plateau in the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) for obtaining human foods and causing property damage. Unfortunately, she would prove to be a pure testament of how ineffective relocation can be. GB 101 again made her way back to Rainbow Point, MT, almost 130 km away from the area she was relocated to in 1994 (8-years prior). On August 31, 2002, after 20 years in the GYE, she was captured (management) for obtaining human foods with the presence of two cubs, and permanently removed and relocated to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, MT. Since 2002, GB 101 has spent 16 years in captivity, now 36 years old. Grizzlies in the wild of YNP can reach ages up to 30 years old, however not extremely common. The oldest documented grizzly in YNP was 31 years old. In captivity, these bears can sometimes surpass the age of 30, approaching close to 40 years old in some cases. This is truly representative of the exceptional, great care they receive at facilities such as the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center of West Yellowstone, MT. A special thank you to the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center of West Yellowstone, MT for providing phenomenal care and a great home to Sow 101 for the past 16 years!
For more information on bears, wolves at the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, or if you wish to donate, please visit their website: https://www.grizzlydiscoveryctr.org/ Photo credits: Jim Peaco (left) & Neal Herbert (right) (NPS, 2017) GB 815 was first captured by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team June 10, 2015 and fitted with a VHF radio-collar for research purposes. At the time of her capture, no cubs were present. The following year, 2016, she was observed with an initial litter of three cubs-of-the-year (COY); by the end of 2016 she only had one remaining cub.
During 2017, GB 815 was observed in six different months (April, May, June, July, August, September) for a total of 36 observations. She was occupied with one-remaining yearling cub from her initial litter of three during 2016. Her range encompassed approximately 123 km^2 during 2016. This nearly doubled during 2017, where her range was approximately 225 km^2. Home range size has often been thought to be a function of resource availability; as sizes of home ranges decrease, habitat quality increases (Steiniger et al. 2010). Several factors must be taken into consideration with the construction of home ranges for grizzly bears (Munro et al. 2006, Ross 2002, McLellan 1989).
Ultimately, it is possible that some females never meet or attain a maximum home range size within the Yellowstone grizzly population, given the unpredictability of food resources (Mattson et al. 1991). This was also demonstrated during a 13-year study performed by Blanchard et al. 1991, where several females were monitored 6-years or more and had not attained a maximum or reflective maximum home range. The movements of females with COY for example, can be explained by several factors. Movements of females with COY during spring may be due to the lack of mobility of the young, when they are also most vulnerable to predation (Blanchard et al. 1991). Females with COY typically have increased security for their young during spring by selecting habitats, and least preferred vegetation at higher elevations, while other bears in cohorts are found at lower, more productive elevations (Blanchard et al. 1991). Females with cubs may be displaced due to sub ordinance of the female to other bears in a very similar proximity, or even the ignorance of vulnerability of her cubs to predation, stemming from lack of experience (Blanchard et al. 1991). The southernmost areas of the Wind River Range are now classified and considered territory of the Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bear. Typically, with grizzlies, outlying territory is usually occupied and first inhabited by dispersing subadult males; Wind River is a leading example.
(http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/jackson_hole_daily/local/grizzly-range-is-stretching/article_5384c893-4c72-5195-9c28-e53c8f4d1066.html) Grizzly bear 788 is one of many subadult males to inhabit the Wind River Range area. Grizzly 788 was first captured on August 13, 2014 at Bull Lake Creek on the Wind River Indian Reservation. At the time of capture, 788 was collared, allowing movements to be tracked. 788 was the first capture and GPS collar deployment in the Wind River Mountain area within Wind River Indian Reservation. ---Hnilicka, P. 2015. Grizzly Bear-Human Conflicts on the Wind River Reservation. pg. 69 in Yellowstone grizzly bear investigations: annual report of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team, 2014. U.S. Geological Survey, Bozeman, Montana, USA.--- |
AuthorTyler Brasington is a native born and raised Pennsylvanian, yet proud current Wisconsin resident. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with a B.S. in Environmental Science. Currently, Tyler is pursuing his masters in Natural Resources with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He has worked in Yellowstone National Park under the guidance and supervision of Dr. George Clokey and Dr. Jim Halfpenny. Disclaimer: The information and views expressed on this page do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Interior, US Geological Survey, National Park Service or the United States Government.
The Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Project
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