Bears in Connecticut Tracked with GPS Devices Surprise Researchers

We frequently write stories about GPS technology assisting wildlife researchers. More often than not, these stories involve conservation efforts for endangered species. In this case, biologists from the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection are using GPS collars to monitor a thriving population of bears in Connecticut. Certainly, reading about growing wildlife populations feels better than reading about some species nearing extinction. However, this story isn’t all roses. More bears mean more area is needed for habitat and foregoing for food, which winds up with more bears wandering into urban areas.

“As the population grows, there are going to be bear intrusions into more and more suburban and urban settings,” explained Paul Rego, a biologist with the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. “We receive many complaints about bears. We spend a lot of resources dealing with complaints.” 25 bears have been fitted with GPS collars. The collars help biologists monitor the bears, but they aren’t much help in preventing or avoiding conflict. When bears have been trapped and taken far from people, GPS tracking shows that they quickly return to the area they were just removed from.

The tracking study has revealed some fascinating behavior of the bears. From previous, less precise tracking methods, female bears were believed to stay within about a seven mile radius. GPS shows that the range is actually around 15 miles, and one bear was tracked traveling 50 miles, presumably scavenging for food. “We never would have known that otherwise,” said Jason E. Hawley, also a wildlife biologist. “Our GPS collars are opening up a whole new world for us.”

The bear population in Connecticut could be as large as 500. Getting a precise number of the bear population is very tricky. Tracy A.G. Rittenhouse, assistant professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Connecticut, is working on a method to get a better grasp of the numbers. They’ve placed barbed wire around trees, with a scent trap in the middle. The bears are attracted to the scent and the barbed wire will likely collect some of the bear’s fur. These lures are called “hair corrals” and there are 150 all around northwest Connecticut. The hair will provide individual bear DNA, which will give a much better idea of the real population number.

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Bears in Connecticut Tracked with GPS Devices Surprise Researchers