Field Study Designed to Give Connecticut A Better Handle on Black Bear Population

This article written by John Fitts.

The rain picks up but a determined Michael Evans makes his way through a heavily wooded area near Breezy Hill Road in Canton.

With permission, he’s off the beaten path on private and Canton Land Conservation Trust property. 

Upon finding a double strand barbed-wire corral, he quickly squats down inspecting the barbs, pushing ferns out of the way when necessary. He’s passed remnants of stonewalls but Evans isn’t looking for evidence of past farming activity so prevalent in these woods.

What he is after is evidence of bears contained in a three-sided, double strand corral. He’s hoping scented oil on the fencing and a suspended cloth attracted some during the past week, causing them to brush against the barbs, leaving hair samples that will later undergo DNA testing.

Welcome to what Evans calls the “The Black Bear Project,” or "Black Bear Population Estimation." It uses non-invasive genetic sampling, or "non-invasive genetic mark-recapture methods" and now involves 150 such corrals in the western part of the state, 50 of which are equipped with motion sensitive cameras.

“I kind of put them in an area where the bears are moving through naturally,” Evans says.

Evans, a graduate student with the University of Connecticut College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, is conducting the study, which was commissioned by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

"We’re hoping to develop a reliable estimate of our bear population,” DEEP wildlife biologist Paul Rego says during a telephone interview.

The technique is surprisingly effective and has been successful in other areas, Evans says.

“It does produce a very robust estimate for the area where you’re conducting your sampling,” Evans says.

Back at the Canton site during this particular visit Evans is a little pessimistic about finding much. Not surprisingly for early summer 2013, the skies are cloudy and his uncovered head is drenched from a downpour.

Soon, however, he finds a single hair on one side. 

“Got one.”

He walks to the other side and finds a larger clump, followed by two more in the back. From there, he carefully collects each sample in individual envelopes, doing his best to use a covered binder to shield them from the rain. Before leaving he burns off any remnants so there's no duplication next week. Some fresh fish oil on the fence and overhang is the final step. 

Later, he’ll take follicles from the hair shaft and perform DNA testing at University of Connecticut labs. It’s advanced enough to allow him to distinguish different individuals.

Last year his study began with fewer sites and from June to August of 2013 and 2014, Evans, with the help of a few field assistants, will visit the sites weekly.  In all the four-year study should give the state some good numbers. 

Rego says the will greatly augment other DEEP efforts such as tagging and help it get a better estimate on bear population.

Although there are increased sightings in Eastern Connecticut the study concentrates on the western part of the state.

Rego says many eastern Connecticut sightings are likely dispersing males and while there could be some small populations taking hold, most of the established bears are still in the western part.

The study focuses on:

• Northern 'rural grid' — parts of Torrington, Winchester, Norfolk, Canaan, Goshen and Cornwall. 
• The eastern 'suburban grid' — Burlington, Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, Canton and a bit of New Hartford. 
•  Southern grid — Borders on the southern extent of what is considered established bear territory includes Thomaston, Morris, Washington, Roxbury, Woodbury, Watertown and Bethlehem.  

DEEP and Evans say a better handle on the bear population will help the state better manage it.

For Evans, and many biologists, it's also personal — and fascinating.  

“In my mind it has a very tangible, direct application,” Evans says.  “There’s a lot to be gained for understanding how wildlife populations adapt to humans and vice versa.”