Research»

Black Bear / Human Interaction

The OASLC, in partnership with the US Geological Survey-Biological Resources Division (USGS-BRD), and Kenai Fjords National Park, supported field work during the summer of 2003 aimed at understanding the impacts human presence is having on black bear behavior in the Kenai Fjords.

Co-investigators Dr. Tom Smith and Steven Partridge, both from the USGS-BRD collaborated with the National Park Service's Dr. Terry DeBryun and Ian Martin to lead teams of researchers that also included volunteers. They sought out areas known to be frequented by bears in the springtime, and intentionally approached them, recording behaviors such as when the bear first noticed them and when it was displaced by their presence.

Increasing visitor use of the Fjords is resulting in increasing encounters between bears and humans, and this study hope to provide useful guidelines for Park managers to better regulate human use and provide a safe environment for both bears and Park visitors.

Use the links at the right to learn more about the Black Bear-Human Interaction Project in Kenai Fjords National Park.