More information on the Carnivores and Communities Program can be found here. 

To view, save or print a PDF of the poster click here.

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See poster below for more information.

Call 403-653-4977 to register or for information contact Jeff Bectell at 403-653-2219 or jbectell@watertonbiosphere.com.

To view, save or print a PDF of the poster click here.

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More information on the Carnivores and Communities Program can be found here. 

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Addressing the three-pronged goals of attractant management, deadstock removal and human safety, CACP initiatives include electric fencing projects, grain bin replacements and feed storage retrofits, deadstock removal with free farm pick-ups, and bear safety workshops for agricultural families. In support of the CACP Emerald Award nomination, the late local rancher Charlie Russell reflected,  “ I never thought that I would see the day where so many people would be learning to live with these large predators and I attribute this to the good work of this community-based initiative.”

To date, the CACP has completed over 70 cost-shared, attractant management projects with 50 families, and removed over 3,500 carcasses from 500,000 hectares of land.

WBRA Executive Director Nora Manners and Science and Stewardship Coordinator Dr. Andrea Morehouse at the 2018 Emerald Awards presentation.

We would like to congratulate all the landowners, funders and other supporters who have contributed to the CACP over the years.   The 2018 Emerald Award goes out to you; it is your hard work and dedication that has made this program a success.

For more information on the CACP click here.

The post The Carnivores & Communities Program Wins 2018 Emerald Award appeared first on Waterton Biosphere Region.

For the past 27 years, the Emerald Awards have recognized and celebrated the outstanding environmental achievements of large and small businesses, individuals, not-for-profit associations, community groups, youth, and governments.

In 2009, the CACP was initiated by the Waterton Biosphere Reserve in response to increasing conflicts between large carnivores (bears, wolves, cougars) and agricultural land uses in southwestern Alberta. The CACP benefits both people and large carnivores. The program is a multi-faceted community-based approach which identifies key sources of human wildlife conflicts, designs practical solutions to improve attractant management, reduces the economic impacts of large carnivores on agricultural producers, and enhances the safety of residents. Initiatives include: electric fencing projects, grain bin replacements and feed storage retrofits, removal of dead livestock from the landscape, and bear safety workshops for agricultural families.

Congratulations to all the landowners, land managers, local partners, funders and organizations who have supported the CACP over the years.  Your commitment and hard work on helping reduce and mitigate conflicts that can occur when people and carnivores share the same landscape is being recognized !

The program is a provincial success story of different people and perspectives working together through partnership organizations and levels of government to facilitate the coexistence of people and large carnivores.

You might also be interested in:

Large Carnivore Attractant Management
Large Carnivore Attractant Management Projects in Southwestern Alberta 2013-2014
Anne Loosen – 2016 – WBRA

WBR Carnivores and Communities Technical Guides
WBR Technical Guide: Deadstock Removal Program 
Annie Loosen – April 2015; Updated by Andrea Morehouse – Nov 2017 – WBRA
WBR Technical Guide: Electric Fencing
Annie Loosen – April 2015 – WBRA
WBR Carnivores and Communities Technical Guide: Securing Your Grain Storage
Annie Loosen – April 2015 – WBRA

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DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JUNE 24TH

We want to hear from YOU!

The Waterton Biosphere Reserve is administering a social survey to better understand landowner perceptions of program effectiveness and participation in our Carnivores and Communities Program. Your response will help make an important contribution to understanding which issues with carnivores are most pressing, how we are doing with our Carnivores and Communities Program, and what may be required for future efforts. The more responses we collect, the greater our understanding will be. All responses are confidential and no personally identifiable information will be used in reporting.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. The online survey will be open until June 24, 2018.

THIS SURVEY IS NOW CLOSED

If you have questions or would like a paper version of the survey, please contact:

Jeff Bectell at jbectell@watertonbiosphere.com or 403-653-2219

Click image to download pdf of poster

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Attend one of three Carnivores and Communities Program meetings to hear updates about bear and wolf activity in southwestern Alberta.  Learn about recent projects completed and support available to help landowners reduce the risk of conflict with carnivores on their land including deadstock removal, bear proofing grain bins, electric fencing, and bear proof garbage bins.

Featured speakers will include Annie Loosen presenting the final results of the black bear monitoring project and Cat Urbigkit sharing her expertise about the use of livestock guardian dogs.

WE HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN US AT ONE OF THREE UPCOMING MEETINGS:

Wednesday Dec 6 at the Cardston Seniors Centre – 7pm
or
Thursday Dec 7 at MD of Ranchland building at Chain Lakes – 1pm
or
Thursday Dec 7 at the Heritage Inn in Pincher Creek – 7 pm

If you have questions or would like further information please contact:

Jeff Bectell at jbectell@watertonbiosphere.com or 403 653 2219
or
Tony Bruder at tbruder@watertonbiosphere.com or 403 627 5425

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Join us for an afternoon to learn about bear safety. This workshop is targeted specifically at safety concerns for southwestern Alberta farm and ranch owners, workers, and family members (all ages welcome) as they go about their daily routines, living and working in close proximity with grizzly and black bears.  Learn:

• how to minimize attractants around your ranch and yard
• how to avoid bear encounters
• what to do when you do encounter a bear
• how to correctly identify dangerous bear behavior
• how to respond appropriately

Get hands-on practice using bear spray and take home a can of bear spray for your family to use (limited number available).

EVENT DETAILS:

Friday June 23^rd, 2017
1:00 to 4:30 pm
Cardston Reunion Centre
Cardston, AB

There will be separate activities for younger children.
Beverages and snacks will be provided.
Dress for the weather – bear spray practice will be outdoors.

Thanks to our generous supporters there is no cost for the workshop, but pre-registration is requested.

Please register by June 20^th if possible.  

To register contact:

Jeff Bectell
Carnivores and Communities Program Coordinator
Phone: (403) 653 – 2219
Email: jbectell@watertonbiosphere.com

View the event poster (pdf) here.

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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

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June 28, 2016, Twin Butte, Alberta – In 2011, Dr. Andrea Morehouse embarked on the Southwest Alberta Grizzly Bear Monitoring Project (GBMP), a collaborative effort between the University of Alberta, Alberta Environment and Parks, and Parks Canada, with the goal of generating an accurate population estimate of grizzly bears in the southwestern corner of Alberta in Bear Management Area 6 (BMA6).  Using non-invasive DNA analysis the project collected hair samples from 899 rub objects during 2011-2014 which were then sent to a lab for testing.

On June 28^th, 2016 Dr. Morehouse presented the final results from the GBMP at the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association (WBRA) Annual General Meeting held at the Twin Butte Community Hall in Twin Butte, Alberta, located right in the heart of grizzly country.

While most folks came to the AGM to hear the grizzly bear population statistics for the area, Dr. Morehouse provided attendees with a great deal of insight about the other aspects of the project.  This included information on learned behavior in bears and how the distribution of grizzly bear incidents in southwestern Alberta has changed over the years.

Map showing Bear Management Areas in Alberta. Photo credit: Alberta Environment and Parks Draft Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan. Click to enlarge.

In 2007 the province estimated there were 51 grizzly bears in BMA 6.  When compared with grizzly bear densities in other parts of the province this represented the highest density of bears in Alberta at 18 bears/1000 km sq.  The final results of the 2011-2014 GBMP in this area updated the population estimates to 67 resident bears with a larger population of 172 grizzly bears that use the area.  This correlates to a population density of 20.4 grizzly bears/1000 km sq. in the Recovery Zone, and 17.1/1000‎ km sq. in the Support Zone.   The Recovery Zone and Support Zone are defined within the new draft Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.  Southwestern Alberta continues to have the highest density grizzly bear population in the province.

The grizzly bears in BMA 6 are a part of a larger Rocky Mountain sub-population of over 1000 grizzly bears that includes bears in British Columbia and Montana.  In fact, over 50% of the bears identified through the GBMP were also detected in southeastern BC and northern Montana. “There is no ecological basis for partitioning an Alberta portion of this larger grizzly bear population, which makes producing meaningful density and abundance estimates challenging,” said Morehouse.  “These numbers, however, are necessary because grizzly bears are managed on state and provincial boundaries.  The new abundance estimate represents a 4% per year increase in the grizzly bear population since 2007, which is remarkably similar to recent population growth estimates from Montana.  While there is variability around all of these estimates, it is clear that the grizzly bear population in BMA6 has not declined.”

Since 1999 there has been a significant increase in grizzly bear incidents with people or property in southwestern Alberta.  From 1999 through 2014, the majority of grizzly bear incidents in southwestern Alberta (BMA 6 and the southern portion of BMA 5) were related to attractants (55.3%) followed by incidents that involved the killing or injury of livestock (39.5%).  Of the incidents involving attractants, 43% were related to grain storage, 37% were related to deadstock and the remainder involved pet food, garbage, vegetation, silage, bee hives, bird feeders or campsites.

As part of Dr. Morehouse’s research she also evaluated evidence of social learning of conflict behaviours.   Could it be that young bears were learning bad behavior from their parents or even inheriting it genetically? Using genotypes from 2043 grizzly bears from British Columbia, Montana and Alberta, along with Alberta conflict records, Dr. Morehouse was able to identify a link between incidents involving parent bears and their offspring.

“We found some evidence of social learning of conflict behaviours.  Cubs stay with their moms for 2-3 years during which time learning could take place,” said Morehouse.   “For this reason it is particularly important to try and discourage problem behavior from developing in the first place”.

Bear outside of electric at a Carnivores and Communities project.

In an effort to reduce conflict with large carnivores, the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association implemented the Carnivores and Communities program in 2009, building upon the work already being done by local ranchers.    The Carnivores and Communities program provides support to farmers and ranchers to reduce attractants on their property.   This includes securing grain storage and deadstock removal, two of the main attractants identified in Morehouse’s report.  The WBRA also provides support for electric fencing and has bear resistant garbage bins available to rural residents in the program area.

“We know we can’t totally eliminate conflict with large carnivores, but what we can do is help landowners reduce the risk on their property through these projects”, said Jeff Bectell, WBRA Chair and Co-ordinator of the Carnivores and Communities program who also presented at the WBRA meeting.

The Carnivores and Communities program is primarily funded by the governments of Alberta and Canada but has also been supported by many other organizations.   “We couldn’t do this without the support of the local community.   This has always been a program driven by our farmers and ranchers who all deserve a thank you for not only looking after valuable grizzly bear habitat through good land stewardship, but also for being willing to undertake projects to minimize conflict with these animals,” says Bectell.

While the farmers and ranchers in southwestern Alberta are working to reduce attractants on the landscape, there is one attractant that will be hard to remove without giving up their livelihood and that is livestock.

Dr. Morehouse’s research comes at a critical time as the province of Alberta is currently updating their Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan.  As a part of the draft plan the province has allocated $150 000 to the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association to continue projects aimed at reducing attractants.

“We appreciate the support that we have received so far.  Most farmers and ranchers appreciate the value of large carnivores on the landscape but the fact is these animals come with a cost, both economically and socially.” – Jeff Bectell.

For more information visit:

The Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association (WBRA):
www.watertonbiosphere.com
WBRA Carnivores and Communities Program
https://www.watertonbiosphere.com/projects/carnivores-communities/
Grizzly Bear Monitoring Project in Southwestern Alberta
http://aep.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife/wildlife-management/grizzly-bear-research/southwest-alberta-grizzly-monitoring/default.aspx
Research paper prepared by Andrea T. Morehouse and Mark S. Boyce – June 2016 – University of Alberta
Grizzly Bears Without Borders: Spatially Explicit Capture–Recapture in Southwestern Alberta
Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan
Overview of proposed Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan (4 pages)
Draft Alberta Grizzly Bear Recovery Plan (2016-2021)

For media inquires or further information please contact:

Jennifer Jenkins
Communications Coordinator
Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association
Email: jjenkins@watertonbiosphere.com
Phone: 403 627 9598

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