Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Category
STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics)
Abstract/Artist Statement
Missoula and Ravalli Counties in Montana, renowned for their prime bear habitats encompassing mountains, rivers, creeks, and forests, have witnessed a notable increase in human-bear conflicts over the past two decades. This escalation is attributed to concurrent growth in both human and bear populations, coupled with climate-induced constraints on natural food sources. Human-bear conflicts arise primarily when bears access human-associated foods (attractants), including fruit trees, garbage, and bird feeders. Evaluation of conflicts relies predominantly on voluntary reports, revealing a significant reporting gap between Ravalli and Missoula Counties. Despite this, conflict reports and prevention strategies remain unexamined based on attractant types and geographical features at a county scale.
This study aims to comprehend the spatial and temporal shifts in conflicts and prevention priorities over five years, considering alterations in land cover and escalating human development in both counties. By analyzing a comprehensive database of conflicts reported to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, along with implemented conflict prevention strategies, the research examines the spatial dynamics and social demographics of human-black bear conflicts in Missoula and Ravalli Counties from 2017 to 2022. The objectives include: (1) comparing geographical features strongly correlated with conflicts and conflict prevention strategies in both counties and (2) contrasting demographic profiles in conflict-prone areas between Ravalli and Missoula Counties to reveal potential social determinants contributing to reporter bias in Ravalli County.
Preliminary findings reveal garbage as the primary attractant driving conflicts in both counties, particularly along riparian corridors, emphasizing the need for comprehensive conflict prevention strategies in housing development zones near water features.
This study guides bear managers in adapting prevention strategies to target areas highly correlated with conflicts in both counties. Furthermore, the results will inform the establishment of bear buffer zones through community planning in Ravalli County and inform areas to prioritize the Missoula Bear Smart Community Plan implementation.
Mentor Name
Sarah Halvorson
Personal Statement
Since 2019, I have served as a Program Biologist with the Wind River Bear Institute, actively collaborating with communities in Ravalli County. This collaborative effort includes close cooperation with members of the Missoula Bear Smart Working Group. Working under the supervision of James Jonkel, Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Region 2 Bear Management Specialist, and Carrie Hunt, founder of the Wind River Bear Institute, my role has involved responding to human-bear conflict calls and addressing bear "attractants" on both private and public lands. The significance of this study lies in its potential to inform future community development planning in Missoula and Ravalli Counties. By identifying areas to target human-bear conflict prevention strategies in both counties, the aim is to ensure a future coexistence between bears and people. A secondary goal of this study is to uncover explanatory sociodemographic factors or geographical features contributing to the reporting discrepancy in Ravalli County compared to Missoula County. A comparative analysis of sociodemographic profiles and geographic correlations with conflicts in each county is expected to reveal patterns of conflict occurrence and reporting. This information will guide bear managers in strategically targeting conflict mitigation resources and information to build public trust and improve reporting outcomes in Ravalli County. In summary, the collective findings of this research are intended to culminate in a set of recommendations for human-bear conflict mitigation strategies specific to Ravalli and Missoula Counties. These recommendations may influence the implementation of the Missoula Bear Smart Community Plan and assist in identifying priority areas for establishing bear buffer zones and ordinances in Ravalli County. Moreover, the results will be disseminated to the public through the Missoula Bears website and local newspaper articles to inform community development plans. The study's outcomes can be adapted and applied in similar areas to guide conflict prevention strategies and implement bear-smart community planning.
Reyes_Video_Presentation
Human-Bear Conflicts in Southwest Montana: Mapping Attractants and Prevention Efforts in Missoula and Ravalli Counties
UC 333
Missoula and Ravalli Counties in Montana, renowned for their prime bear habitats encompassing mountains, rivers, creeks, and forests, have witnessed a notable increase in human-bear conflicts over the past two decades. This escalation is attributed to concurrent growth in both human and bear populations, coupled with climate-induced constraints on natural food sources. Human-bear conflicts arise primarily when bears access human-associated foods (attractants), including fruit trees, garbage, and bird feeders. Evaluation of conflicts relies predominantly on voluntary reports, revealing a significant reporting gap between Ravalli and Missoula Counties. Despite this, conflict reports and prevention strategies remain unexamined based on attractant types and geographical features at a county scale.
This study aims to comprehend the spatial and temporal shifts in conflicts and prevention priorities over five years, considering alterations in land cover and escalating human development in both counties. By analyzing a comprehensive database of conflicts reported to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, along with implemented conflict prevention strategies, the research examines the spatial dynamics and social demographics of human-black bear conflicts in Missoula and Ravalli Counties from 2017 to 2022. The objectives include: (1) comparing geographical features strongly correlated with conflicts and conflict prevention strategies in both counties and (2) contrasting demographic profiles in conflict-prone areas between Ravalli and Missoula Counties to reveal potential social determinants contributing to reporter bias in Ravalli County.
Preliminary findings reveal garbage as the primary attractant driving conflicts in both counties, particularly along riparian corridors, emphasizing the need for comprehensive conflict prevention strategies in housing development zones near water features.
This study guides bear managers in adapting prevention strategies to target areas highly correlated with conflicts in both counties. Furthermore, the results will inform the establishment of bear buffer zones through community planning in Ravalli County and inform areas to prioritize the Missoula Bear Smart Community Plan implementation.