As part of this study, biologists from AEC/ESF are collecting the reproductive tract from harvested female bears in the Adirondack region for the 2010 hunting season. The project will attempt to answer these questions: 1) Do nuisance levels increase if the natural food source falls short, 2) Do female bears synchronize their reproduction with natural food cycles, and 3) What are the best conditions for cub production?
There are telltale signs left in the reproductive tract after a female bear has mated and given birth to cubs. The process of ovulation and birth leaves visible scars inside the ovaries and uterus.
Counts of scars in the uterus tell how many cubs were born. Counts of scars in the ovaries indicate the number of eggs shed. No scars in either the ovary or the uterus indicate the bear had not mated. This information, combined with the age of each animal, will tell a great deal about what is going on in the bear population, such as the number of cubs produced, reproductive timing and reproductive success.
Heading up the project is Courtney LaMere, a graduate student at SUNY-ESF (Syracuse).
“My study is looking at the relationship between natural food abundance (particularly beechnuts) and human-bear conflict numbers and productivity. I’m hypothesizing that when natural foods fail, nuisance bear complaints go up,” said Courtney.
She went on to say “This is something that everyone assumes and I’d like to put some empirical evidence behind it and give DEC a predictive tool for dealing with bad bear summers.”
Ms. LaMere has a Bachelors degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont and is in the second year of her Masters program at SUNY-ESF. She has worked on wildlife research projects in Utah, Montana, California, Vermont and Massachusetts. Courtney has worked with a variety of species including grizzlies, cougars, desert tortoises, endangered minnows, and sea lampreys.
A second hypothesis Courtney has is that sows synchronize their reproduction with the beechnut crop.
This is where the reproductive tract collection comes in. Through articles like this, as well as the SUNY-ESF Web site and other means of public awareness, the project is asking hunters to save the tracts in the field and drop them off at collection points.
Courtney says, “I need to do a major outreach to hunters as I’m asking for something they would usually leave in the woods.”
According to Ms. LaMere the reproductive tract collection this fall is a pilot project to see if it’s feasible for the state to continue in the future.
It’s a program that other states including Michigan and West Virginia have implemented with a lot of success. It’s a relatively easy and inexpensive way to get more data on population numbers, growth trends and productivity.
“All I need to analyze the tracts is a scalpel and some formalin (a fixing chemical to harden the organs), and all the hunters need is their knife and a plastic sandwich bag. The hunters can have an active role in promoting more knowledge on their game animal,” said Courtney.
The following businesses have agreed to assist with the project by being a collection point for the tracts:
Stone’s Smokehouse
67 Rabideau Street
Morrisonville
Miller’s Meat Cutting
6524 Number 4 Road
Lowville
North Country Taxidermy
Main Street
Keene
Fraiser Taxidermy
62 Hardscrabble Road
Olmstedville
Bucklore Hunting Adventures
1 Beaver Run Lane
Dickinson Center
Keith’s Taxidermy
10688 Route 28
Forestport
Lake Champlain Taxidermy
799 Fuller Road
Peru
Rod’s Taxidermy
1620 County Rte 53
Brasher Falls
Ron Seelman Meat Cutting
9634 Luke Road
Marcy
Kelsey’s Meat Cutting
134 West Street
Boonville
Adirondack Wildlife Studio
1038 St. Hwy. 10
Caroga Lake
Still Wild Taxidermy
14 Upper Turnpike Rd.
Granville
Best Quality Taxidermy
6 Church Street
Granville
Jeff’s Taxidermy
54 Meadowview Dr.
Schaghticoke
Patterson’s Taxidermy
144 Church Street
Alexandria Bay
Wilderness Walt’s Taxidermy
10641 Station Road
Deer River
Analyzing the beechnut and other mast/food crop records along with the reproductive tract from female bears are just two pieces of the puzzle. The third is the age of the bear after harvest.
After you report your bear harvest, DEC will either contact you to examine the bear or send a premolar tooth collection packet. If you or your taxidermist submits a tooth, DEC will send you a letter informing you of the bear’s age. Place the tooth or teeth in the small yellow envelopes provided in the collection packet and label these with your name and the DOC # from your bear carcass tag. Mail the sample to DEC in the postage-paid return envelope provided.
I urge all hunters to participate in the study by submitting the premolar and reproductive tract. In addition, pass the word to the rest of your hunting community. For more information, visit the ESF Web site at www.esf.edu/aec/research/bearproject.
The more information DEC and AEC/ESF can collect the more it will help provide useful tools to more effectively manage the population and continue the New York tradition of hunting the majestic black bear.