Black Bears in México: Outliers, Local Knowledge, and Management

Document Type

Presentation Abstract

Presentation Date

3-28-2022

Abstract

The black bear (Ursus americanus) in Mexico is classified as endangered based on declines prior to the 1980’s. However, changes in public attitude, governmental protection, and cooperative landowner efforts to protect the bear have resulted in a natural expansion and recovery. Similarly, black bear numbers are increasing throughout North America. Because of the large home ranges of bears, and the variability of bear food production and population dynamics in desert environments, bear populations are very difficult to study and monitor. In addition, habitat suitability, as quantified in most recent publications, does not include the production of food, which may be one of the key components to bear habitat selection. This can be highly significant in desert populations where food production is variable, and dependent on climatological events. We intensively studied this population for 10 years, and concentrated density estimation efforts within a 100 km2 area, and the total cost was approximately $750,000 USD. Conducting density estimates of bears in desert ecosystems contains large error and has short-term value because of volatile fluctuations in weather, food production, and bear population dynamics. Because of economic constraints and different cultural perspectives in Mexico, we must adapt research tools that are more practical and culturally acceptable, and that incorporate local knowledge as part of our toolbox.

Additional Details

March 28, 2022 at 3:00 p.m. Math 103 & Zoom

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