Estimating Grizzly and Black Bear Population Abundance and Trend in Banff National Park Using Noninvasive Genetic Sampling

Grizzly bear populations in Banff National Park, Canada, are likely declining due to high human-caused mortality. A study using noninvasive genetic sampling—hair traps and bear rub surveys—estimated grizzly bear abundance at 73.5 (2006) and 50.4 (2008), with population growth rates (λ) of 0.93 for males and 0.90 for females, suggesting a stable but vulnerable population. Hair traps effectively detected female grizzlies and black bears, while bear rub surveys were more reliable for both male and female grizzlies. These findings highlight the potential of bear rub surveys as an efficient tool for monitoring grizzly bear populations in the Canadian Rockies.

Sawaya, M. A., Stetz, J. B., Clevenger, A. P., Gibeau, M. L., & Kalinowski, S. T. (2012). Estimating Grizzly and Black Bear Population Abundance and Trend in Banff National Park Using Noninvasive Genetic Sampling. PLoS ONE, 7(5), e34777. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0034777