Abstract 206 – Assessing Temporal Changes In Grizzly Bear Reproductive Characteristics Under Fluctuating Pacific Salmon Returns

Sophie Fowler

Using a long-term camera trap dataset collected over the past 14 years with >5,000
independent grizzly bear detections, this project aims to analyze how Pacific salmon
(Oncorhynchus spp.) returns affect grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) reproductive characteristics,
including recruitment into an ecologically and economically important watershed (Glendale
Creek, Knight Inlet, BC). The study will examine the presence and relative abundance of
dependent young in contrasting years across a gradient of high and low years of Pacific salmon
returns. A new year of data will be collected in 2023 using twenty camera traps, following
salmon habitat restoration efforts in previous years. Understanding the link between coastal
grizzly bear recruitment and food source (i.e., Pacific salmon) insecurity may provide insight for
sustaining future populations of both species. The findings from this study may be influential in
informing updates to the Glendale Bear Viewing Management Plan, new information on the
local bear population, mitigation strategies, further understanding of bear-salmon-forest
ecosystem processes and contributing to the sustainability future of nature-based economies.
Methodologies used in this study are generalized and adhere to camera trapping standards of
data organization and analysis. The results of this study are relevant to current environmental
questions such as fluctuation in salmon returns and can be applied at a small or large scale,
regionally, or from a global lens.