In BC, a sophisticated method is used for mapping black bear habitats by identifying the location of high quality habitats which are rich in bear food and other ecological requirements. This method (RIC 1999) which originated as the Fuhr-Demarchi method, is the most highly evolved methodology in North America for hierarchically categorizing wildlife habitat. The objective of this mapping methodology is to estimate the land’s capability for supporting black bears. Habitat units are combined with vegetation zones to produce a detailed map of habitat capability. Habitat units (from a few hectares to several hundred hectares) are mapped for a large number of factors, including soils, aspect, moisture, vegetation and terrain features such as floodplains and avalanche tracks. These habitat units are ranked from nil to very high according to their potential degree of use by black bears based on the extensive experience of bear and habitat researchers.