Movements of Subadult Male Grizzly Bears, Ursus arctos, in the Central Canadian Arctic

Authors

  • Robert J. Gau Wildlife and Fisheries Division, Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Government of the Northwest Territories, #600 5102-50th Avenue, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 3S8
  • Philip D. McLoughlin Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2
  • Ray Case Wildlife and Fisheries Division, Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Government of the Northwest Territories, #600 5102-50th Avenue, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 3S8
  • H. Dean Cluff Department of Resources, Wildlife, and Economic Development, Government of the Northwest Territories, North Slave Region, P.O. Box 2668, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2P9
  • Robert Mulders Wildlife and Fisheries Division, Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Government of the Northwest Territories, #600 5102-50th Avenue, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 3S8
  • François Messier Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, 112 Science Place, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v118i2.920

Keywords:

Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos, home range, movements, subadult, central Arctic, Northwest Territories

Abstract

Between May 1995 and June 1999, we equipped eight subadult male (3-5 yrs old) Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos) with satellite radio-collars within a study area of 235,000 km2, centred 400 km northeast of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Subadult male annual home ranges were extraordinarily large (average = 11,407 km2, SE = 3849) due, in part, to their movement's occasional linear directionality. We believe their long-range linear movements may reflect some individuals tracking the migration of Caribou (Rangifer tarandus). Seasonal daily movement patterns were similar to adult males that were previously reported. The areas used by these bears are the largest ranges reported for any Grizzly Bears and the scale of their movements may put individual bears in contact with humans even when developments are hundreds of kilometres from the central home range of an animal.

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Issue

Vol. 118 No. 2 (2004)

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Articles

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