The Waterton Biosphere Reserve would like to invite you to join us as we tour various carnivore mitigation projects of the Carnivores and Communities Program (CACP).

The CACP provides support for activities designed to remove or reduce carnivore attractants. Current attractant management projects include removing dead livestock from the landscape, making grain and feed storage facilities more secure, and installing electric fencing to keep carnivores away from other attractants (such as calving grounds).

Our 2016 tour will showcase innovative ways farmers and ranchers are working to reduce the risk of conflict with large carnivores on their property.

TOUR DETAILS:

DATE:  Thursday September 22^nd, 2016
LOCATION:  Meet at Twin Butte Community Hall
TIME:  8:30am – 6:30pm
Tour bus will be leaving the hall at 9:00am

SCHEDULE:

• 8:30am – Welcome and sign-in
• 9am – Bus leaves the hall
• 9:30am to 12pm – Tour various farms and ranches in the area
• 12pm (approximately) – Lunch
• 1pm – Continue tour
• 5:00pm to 6:30pm – Back at the hall for supper and wrap-up

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

• Unique 3-D electric fence project for bears and ungulates
• Modified Sea Can (shipping container) grain storage
• Options for permanent and temporary electric fence to deter carnivores
• Bear-resistant grain bin doors
• Multi-purpose electric fencing that protects grain, hay and silage storage from bears, elk and deer
• Discussion on the draft Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan, the Deadstock Removal Program, and review of the Southwest Alberta Grizzly Bear Monitoring Project results
• Hear about bear safety training opportunities specific to farm and ranch families
• Opportunity for landowners to generate ideas for projects on their own property and learn more about funding available to assist with these projects

Thanks to grants from the provincial and federal government there is no charge to attend the tour which includes both lunch and supper, though pre-registration is required.      Please register by September 16^th, 2016.

To register online please click here:

While online registration is preferred you may also register by contacting:

Tony Bruder – Area Coordinator for the CACP
403 627 5425

Tour day contact and general inquires:
Jen Jenkins – Communications Coordinator for the WBRA
403 627 9598
jjenkins@watertonbiosphere.com

The post Carnivores and Communities Program Tour 2016 appeared first on Waterton Biosphere Region.

Photo by Jen Jenkins

On November 12th and 13th, 2014,  The Waterton Biosphere Reserve Carnivore Working Group held public meetings in Cardston County, the M.D. of Pincher Creek, and the M.D. of Ranchland. With approximately 150 attendees in total, the Carnivore Working Group addressed concerns from area residents and hosted discussion regarding what the future may hold for the management of large carnivores in southwestern Alberta.

One significant finding presented at the meetings is new data which suggests that southwest Alberta’s residents are right; the number of grizzly bears in this neck of the woods is significantly higher than what previous reports suggest.

Since 2011 researcher Andrea Morehouse has been collecting hair samples from bears throughout the southwest corner of the province and sending them away for DNA analysis. In 2013, 128 grizzly bears were detected south of Highway 3. This brings the number of unique grizzly bear profiles identified since the study began to 177. Morehouse’s research comes at a critical time as the Province of Alberta works on a new Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.

During the community meeting, Paul Frame, Provincial Carnivore Specialist with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development presented an overview of the provinces updated approach to grizzly management which may take into account population density and local sensitivity.

The new Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan is expected to be open for public comment in early 2015.

Also attending the meetings were Alberta Fish and Wildlife officers who presented facts regarding the number and type of incidents involving large carnivores in southwestern Alberta.

The Carnivore Working Group continues to work on reducing large carnivore attractants which can have an impact on both the livelihood of farmers and ranchers and the personal safety of all residents.

“Farms and ranches provide food for people and also habitat for wildlife; including large carnivores. We can help producers make changes so that when large carnivores show up on private property there is less likelihood of conflict. That said, there will still need to be management options for dealing with problem bears, wolves and cougars,” says Jeff Bectell, local rancher and current chair of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association.

The Carnivore Working Group has recently proposed a number of changes to the livestock compensation program which they expect to hear back on by the spring of 2015. The group hopes these proposed changes will be an improvement on the current system and better suit the needs of livestock producers.

Updates relating to the Carnivore Working Group and the Grizzly Bear Recovery plan will be posted on our website as they become available.

Further reading:

2014 Grizzly Monitoring Update

Black Bear Monitoring 2014 Update

The post Waterton Biosphere Reserve Hosts Large Carnivore Meetings appeared first on Waterton Biosphere Region.