Grizzly bear and human interaction in Yellowstone National Park: An evaluation of bear management areas

Published source details Coleman T.H., Schwartz C.C., Gunther K.A. & Creel S. (2013) Grizzly bear and human interaction in Yellowstone National Park: An evaluation of bear management areas. Journal of Wildlife Management, 77, 1311-1320.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Exclude or limit number of visitors to reserves or protected areas Action Link

Exclude or limit number of visitors to reserves or protected areas

A study in 2006–2009 in temperate forest in a national park in Wyoming, USA (Coleman et al. 2013) found that restricting human access allowed increased use by grizzly bears Ursus arctos. When human access was restricted more bears used human recreation areas (9.4–10.8% of satellite collar locations) than when human access was unrestricted (4.4–9.1% of satellite collar locations). During restricted periods, human use was lower (5 recreational users/day) than during unrestricted periods (147 recreational users/day). Human and bear activity was monitored across 81,176 ha, in April–September of 2006–2009. Human recreational areas were areas that humans used more than random areas and covered 7.7% of the study area. Peak human activity times were 08.00–18.59 hrs, during which ≥10% of groups were active. Recreational access was prohibited other than on a small number of backcountry campsites and trails during low tourist season (15 April–30 June) but was unrestricted in peak season (1 July–30 September). Fourteen bears were monitored using satellite collars and 385 recreational groups, totalling 1,341 people, carried GPS loggers while using the area.

(Summarised by: Kayla Seltzer)