Alaskan Polar Bear Denning

Lentfer, Jack W.; Hensel, Richard J.

doi:10.2307/3872850

Cited by 24 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Documentation of land-based denning in western Alaska based on radiotracked bears has been rare (Lentfer and Hensel, 1980;Garner et al, 1990). The majority of denning by the Chukchi subpopulation is believed to occur on Wrangel and Herald Islands (Garner et al, 1994), with some additional denning on the Chukotkan coast.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional Knowledge about Polar Bears (<i>Ursus maritimus</i>) in Northwestern Alaska

Voorhees¹,

Sparks²,

Huntington³

et al. 2014

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) are an iconic Arctic species, but residents of Arctic coastal communities are among the few who have opportunities to observe their behavior for extended periods of time. Documenting traditional knowledge about polar bears is thus an important research approach, especially in light of recent rapid changes to summer sea ice extent. We interviewed polar bear hunters in seven Alaska Native communities along the coast of the northern Bering Sea and Chukchi Sea. Our study confirmed findings from similar research conducted in the mid-1990s and added information about the responses of polar bears to more recent environmental change. The distribution and local abundance of polar bears have changed over time, though different communities report different patterns. Polar bears arrive from the north later in fall than previously. Despite substantial changes in sea ice and other aspects of polar bear habitat, the animals generally appear to be in good body condition, and cubs continue to be observed regularly. While polar bears continue to feed primarily on seals, they have been observed eating a diverse range of foods, including eggs, greens, fish, berries, and other foods as available. Reduction in harvest levels due to environmental, economic, and social factors is the overriding trend; however, in years when bears are particularly abundant around villages, this pattern is temporarily reversed. Polar bears remain important spiritually and culturally for the indigenous communities of northern and western Alaska.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditional Knowledge about Polar Bears (<i>Ursus maritimus</i>) in Northwestern Alaska

Voorhees¹,

Sparks²,

Huntington³

et al. 2014

ARCTIC

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“…Pregnant bears in Alaska search for suitable den sites during October and early November, and most maternal dens are established by early December (Amstrup and Gardner, 1994). Parturition is believed to occur between early December and early January (Blix and Lentfer, 1979;Lentfer and Hensel, 1980;Kolenosky and Prevett, 1983;Messier et al, 1994). The family group will remain in the den until late March or early April (Blix and Lentfer, 1979;Amstrup and Gardner, 1994;Messier et al, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spatial management, however, is not possible because the location of future dens is not known. Unlike concentrated denning areas in other parts of the world (Svalbard, Russia, and Hudson Bay), dens in the southern Beaufort Sea coastal area are widely scattered and at low densities (Harington, 1968;Lentfer and Hensel, 1980;Amstrup and Gardner, 1994). Hence, visual observations of bears entering or emerging from dens are inadequate to identify potential denning habitats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Hence, visual observations of bears entering or emerging from dens are inadequate to identify potential denning habitats. A need to identify critical maternal den habitat has long been recognized (Harington, 1968;Lentfer and Hensel, 1980). Den site selection may depend on many factors, including patterns of sea ice formation (Stirling and Andriashek, 1992), hunting by humans (Stirling and Andriashek, 1992), and traditional use of substrates and geographic regions (Ramsay and Andriashek, 1986;Ramsay and Stirling, 1990;Amstrup and Gardner, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Remote Identification of Polar Bear Maternal Den Habitat in Northern Alaska

Durner

Amstrup²,

Ambrosius³

2001

ARCTIC

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ABSTRACT. Polar bears (Ursus maritimus) give birth in dens of ice and snow to protect their altricial young. During the snowfree season, we visited 25 den sites located previously by radiotelemetry and characterized the den site physiognomy. Seven dens occurred in habitats with minimal relief. Eighteen dens (72%) were in coastal and river banks. These "banks" were identifiable on aerial photographs. We then searched high-resolution aerial photographs (n = 3000) for habitats similar to those of the 18 dens. On aerial photos, we mapped 1782 km of bank habitats suitable for denning. Bank habitats comprised 0.18% of our study area between the Colville River and the Tamayariak River in northern Alaska. The final map, which correctly identified 88% of bank denning habitat in this region, will help minimize the potential for disruptions of maternal dens by winter petroleum exploration activities.Key words: aerial photography, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, den habitat, maternal den, photo interpretation, National Petroleum Reserve -Alaska, polar bear, Prudhoe Bay, Ursus maritimus RÉSUMÉ. Les ourses polaires (Ursus maritimus) donnent naissance dans des tanières de glace et de neige afin de protéger leurs petits qui sont nidicoles. Durant la saison libre de neige, on a visité 25 lieux de mise bas repérés précédemment par télémesure et on a caractérisé la structure physionomique de ces lieux. Sept tanières étaient localisées au sein d'habitats au relief très peu prononcé. Dix-huit tanières, soit 72 p. cent, se trouvaient sur des berges côtières ou fluviales. Ces «berges» étaient identifiables sur des clichés aériens. On a ensuite cherché sur des clichés aériens (n = 3000) pris à haute résolution des habitats semblables à ceux des 18 tanières. Sur ces clichés, on a cartographié 1782 km d'habitats de berges appropriés à l'établissement de tanières. Les habitats de berges constituaient 0,18 p. cent de notre zone d'étude entre la rivière Colville et la Tamayariak dans l'Alaska septentrional. La carte finalisée, qui identifiait correctement 88 p. cent de l'habitat contenant des berges propres à l'établissement de tanières dans la région, aidera à minimiser le potentiel de perturbation des tanières d'ourses due aux activités de prospection pétrolière hivernales.

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“…Human activities can influence polar bear denning distribution (Lentfer & Hensel 1980;Stirling & Andriashek 1992;Amstrup 1993). Much of Svalbard's long history of polar bear harvesting involved the very effective but nonselective use of set-guns*baited guns, typically built into wooden boxes.…”

Section: Effect Of Historical Harvest On Denningmentioning

confidence: 99%