Abstract

If you've been following the news for the past few years, you know that black bears have returned to Connecticut. Given this fact, it is important to understand how these animals respond to different levels of developed landscapes. In order to evaluate the factors that govern bear activity, resource use, and movement across the landscape, UConn grad student Mike Evans has conducted research on three facets of bear ecology - population density, dispersal patterns, and resource selection. Mike and his colleagues at the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection’s Wildlife Division have produced the first robust estimate of the size and distribution of Connecticut’s black bear population. This webinar will present these findings and provide perspective on how such information can be used to inform proactive bear management and predict future interaction between bear and human populations. It will conclude with a tour of the new interactive online Story Map that enables the user to explore some of the bear data on their own.