A study in the seven Wildlife Management Units (MU) between Kootenay and Arrow Lakes in southeastern BC and published in the Journal of Wildlife Management estimated 262 grizzly bears based on DNA profiling. This was close to the Wildlife Branch estimate of grizzly bears in the seven MUs of 242 or 25 grizzly bears per 1000 km2.
2) Central Purcell Mountains.
A grizzly bear DNA inventory for the BC Environ-mental Assessment Office estimated a relative density estimate of 27 grizzly bears per 1000km2.
3) South-eastern BC and adjacent jurisdictions.
This classic research study published in the Journal of Wildlife Management analyzed the results of the lives and deaths of 388 radio-collared grizzlies in southeastern BC and adjacent areas. The research showed, among other significant findings that bear survival was greater in multiple use areas than in or immediately adjacent to National Parks. Also, more females were killed in agency control actions than in areas with a legal hunting harvest.
This study to be published in the Canadian Field-Naturalist, estimated a relative density of 40 bears per 1000 km2, thus supporting the official Wildlife Branch estimate.
5) West Slopes Bear Research Project.
This project straddles the Selkirk, Purcell and Rocky Mountain ranges that surround Golden, BC. This DNA research for the Ministry of Environment estimated 25 grizzly bears per 1000 km2. This estimate is within the range of the previous official Wildlife Branch population estimate.
6) Flathead Valley.
This study of grizzly bears published in the Canadian Journal of Zoology, was the first to show that interior populations of grizzly bears, in the absence of an abundant salmon food source could increase at a rate of 8 percent annually, net of hunting. The study also proved that grizzly bears could exist at densities of 60 to 80 grizzly bears per 1000 km2 or higher. Previous to this research the BC Wildlife Branch had been using 19 bears per 1000 km2 as the rating for the best habitats.
7) Khutzeymateen.
This study concluded that there were 80 bears per 1000 km2 and if the rock and ice is excluded from the study area, researchers estimated about 170 bears per 1000 km2. This is more grizzly bears than the government habitat estimates.
