Background:

In 2002 wildfires impacted over 400,000 acres of forest in the White Mountains destroying homes and threatening communities in the area.  Since then the United States Forest Service have been thinning forests surrounding those communities in order to reduce the potential risk of fires in the future.  In conjunction with those forest thinning treatments the Arizona Game and Fish department and the Apache Sitgreaves National Forest have cooperated on a research study to determine the potential impacts on the black bears of the area. 

Location:

The black bear study area includes both treated and untreated forests around the communities of Greer, Nutrioso and Alpine, Arizona.  Efforts have focused on the habitat at the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) surrounding those communities.

Approach:

Since 2006 AZGFD has been investigating resource selection and movements of radiocollared black bears in the WUI treatment areas.  We’ve captured 25 black bears and fitted each with spread spectrum GIS radio-telemetry collars programmed to collect 4-6 locations/day and drop off after 1-2 years for data retrieval.  We are also recording habitat measurements at bear locations and comparing those to similar measurements taken at random sites within proposed WUI treatment areas.  By comparing movement and habitat use patterns of black bear before and after forest treatments we can evaluate the potential impacts of those treatments on the bears.

Benefits: 
This research will provide information on effects of forest management activities on black bears which will help inform decisions on land management at the Wildland Urban Interface as well as guide proper forest stewardship throughout black bear habitat.

For more information contact: 
Kirby Bristow, Arizona Game and Fish Department
5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85023
E-mail: kbristow@azgfd.gov

Michelle Crabb, Arizona Game and Fish Department
5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85023
E-mail: mcrabb@azgfd.gov